By Festus Fifen

Nigeria Vice President Kashim Shettima, Executive Governor of Nasarawa State Abdullahi Sule, Nigeria Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris, and the Managing Director of News Agency of Nigeria, Ali M Ali, are among other dignitaries expected to lead a conference on climate change in Africa organised by The Institute of Strategic and Development Communication (ISDEVCOM), Nasarawa State University, Keffi.

A statement by the Local Organising Committee says Dr. Salisu Dahiru, Director General of the National Council on Climate Change, is expected to deliver the keynote address at the conference, which is slated for April 18th and 19th, 2024, at the Assembly Hall of the Nasarawa State University Keffi.

Also expected at the Conference is Alhaji Ibrahim Usman Jibril, the 12th Emir of Nasarawa Emirate who is also a former Minister of State for Environment.

The 5th annual conference will bring together leading experts, dignitaries, and practitioners in strategic and development communication to discuss this year’s theme, “Communication, Climate Change, and Resilience in Africa.”

According to the Convener of the conference, Prof E.S. Dandaura, “The conference has become a hub for participatory approaches to using communication to solve one of Africa’s most challenging problems, Climate change which has direct impacts on security, health, education, the economy, and food security. Participation always provides an opportunity to meet other practitioners of development and communication, which fosters collaborative problem-solving.

This year’s conference will feature keynote speeches from Vice President Kashim Shettima, Executive Governor of Nasarawa State Abdullahi Sule, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris, Managing Director of News Agency of Nigeria Ali M Ali, among others. ”

The conference will include panel discussions, research presentations, and networking opportunities for scholars and other attendees.

ISDEVCOM was established in 2016 to promote strategic communication for sustainable development. Over the past five years, ISDEVCOM has become a leading voice in strategic and development communication, providing a platform for experts and practitioners to share their knowledge and insights.

The conference theme, “Communication, Climate Change, and Resilience in Africa,” is particularly relevant today as the effects of Climate Change ravage the continent. Strategic communication plays a critical role in achieving resilience in Africa, and the conference will provide a platform for discussing and exploring these roles.

The conference is expected to attract diverse attendees, including policymakers, practitioners, academics, and students. The conference will provide a unique opportunity for attendees to learn from leading experts in the field, network with their peers, and engage in discussions on the role of strategic communication in achieving sustainable development.