WISE: Nigerian women shaping climate justiceCEFR B1
28 Nov 2025
Adapted from Zita Zage, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Muhammad-Taha Ibrahim, Unsplash
The 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) concluded in Brazil. Several African countries sent large official delegations, but one influential Nigerian hub, the Women Initiative for Sustainable Development (WISE), was not present. WISE continues to shape climate justice debates in Nigeria through feminist action and grassroots work.
WISE was founded by Olanike Olugboji-Daramola, who describes herself as a conservationist, climate justice actor and women’s empowerment advocate. She also serves as Nigeria Project Lead for Women’s Earth Alliance and as a correspondent for World Pulse. WISE started as EMPRONET in 2004 and became a legally registered nonprofit in 2009; it says its programmes have directly impacted over 150,000 women.
WISE challenges the elitism of international climate talks and centres lived experience. It organised a Pre-COP28 awareness rally in Kaduna with funding from the Global Fund for Women, ran events under the Nigerian Resistance Hub for Climate Justice, and held a November 21 book reading on floods and their effects on rural women farmers.
Difficult words
- involvement — The act of participating in something actively.
- advocate — To support or argue for a cause or policy.
- empower — To give someone the power or confidence to do something.empowers
- sustainable — Able to be maintained or continued without harming the environment.
- integrated — To combine two or more things into a whole.
- representation — The act of speaking or acting on behalf of someone.
- challenges — Difficult situations or problems that need to be faced.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How can more women be involved in climate discussions?
- What are some ways to raise awareness about climate change?
- Why is it important to include women's perspectives in climate policies?
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