Children from the Child Rights Advocacy Club in Mashi Local Government Area of Katsina State have raised concerns over worsening climate and environmental conditions affecting their safety and access to quality education.
The students made their demands during an advocacy visit to the Mashi Council Chairman and the District Head of Mashi on Sunday, April 19, urging authorities to take immediate action.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the initiative was supported by Save the Children International under the Education Cannot Wait-funded project.
Speaking on behalf of their peers, the young advocates said they represented many children across their communities facing similar challenges daily. They warned that the deteriorating condition of school environments poses serious risks to students’ health, safety, learning, and overall well-being.
They highlighted how climate change and poor environmental practices have made schools increasingly unsafe and less conducive for learning.
As part of their demands, A’isha Mutaka called for the provision of safe and reliable water sources in schools to protect students, particularly during flooding periods.
The children also appealed for clean, functional, and well-maintained toilets with hand-washing facilities to curb open defecation and reduce the spread of diseases.
Halimatu Yusuf urged authorities to improve waste management systems and rehabilitate drainage infrastructure to prevent blockages and reduce flooding around school premises.
Salamatu Mohammed called for intensified tree-planting campaigns and stricter enforcement of anti-deforestation laws to create greener and cooler school environments.
Abdulhamid Surajo stressed the need to strengthen school security through proper fencing and the deployment of guards to prevent unauthorised access, including grazing on school grounds, while also supporting school gardening initiatives.
He identified some of the most affected schools as Government Pilot Secondary School Majigiri, Afadu Primary School, and Doguru Primary and Secondary Schools.
In response, the Mashi Council Chairman, Salisu Kallah, represented by his deputy, Jamilu Yusuf, assured the children that the council would take concrete steps to address the concerns raised.
He also pledged to revisit and enforce existing measures against illegal tree cutting, with a view to creating safer and more conducive learning environments.
The District Head of Mashi, Kabir Aminu, who also holds the traditional title of Iyan Katsina, called for the establishment of school-based environmental clubs and community-driven initiatives to tackle environmental degradation and promote sustainability.
During the visit, the children also used drama and other creative expressions to highlight issues of gender inequality within their communities.
