Researchers Empower Vulnerable Lagos Communities in Building Climate Resilience

Researchers Empower Vulnerable Lagos Communities in Building Climate Resilience 

By 

Olawale Ogunbusola

A research project formally known as 'The PALM-TREEs', a research project known as "A Pan-African and Transdisciplinary Lens on the Margins: Tackling the Risks of Extreme Events', has continued to support vulnerable communities in Lagos State through targeted, climate-resilient livelihood interventions.

The project, funded under the Climate Adaptation and Resilience (CLARE) Programme co-supported by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), is implemented in Nigeria by researchers from Lead City University, Ibadan, the University of Lagos, and the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER).

The initiative was highlighted during the handover event of community-based socio-economic intervention projects  held in Responsible Leaders Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos State on Friday,  January 9, 2026.

Speaking at the event, the Principal Investigator and the Pioneer Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Design and Management, Lead City University, Ibadan, Professor Grace Oloukoi, described the realities of  climate change -  particularly the frequencies and severity of flooding, heatwaves, and drought, as growing global challenges with uneven social impacts.

According to her, the PALM-TREEs project was designed to generate actionable, transdisciplinary knowledge and translate research evidence into practical solutions that strengthen the adaptive capacity of communities living on the margins.

“Our work focuses on solution transfer, transformational climate tools, and the co-creation of knowledge with communities. Climate impacts are not experienced equally, and our interventions deliberately respond to differences in gender, livelihood, location, and access to resources,” she said.

Professor Oloukoi explained that the study used Lagos State as a major case study due to its exposure to coastal flooding, heat stress, and urban pressures.

She noted that the fieldwork covered hundreds of communities across the 20 Local Government Areas of the state, adding that more than 100 communities including Agboyi, Mile 12, Ketu, Ogudu, Iju-Waterworks, Epe,  and other flood- and heat-prone locations were affected.

She stressed that strengthening rural and peri-urban communities remains critical to food security, public health, and social stability, adding that many affected residents prefer to remain in their communities if provided with appropriate adaptation supports; while calling on government to scale up similar support for farmers and informal workers.

“All our interventions are community-driven. The project team and the beneficiaries identified the needs. The benefitting communities own the facilities provided, and are responsible for their use and maintenance. This approach ensures sustainability and long-term resilience,” 

On his part, a Co-Principal Investigator from the University of Lagos, Professor Mayowa Fasona, explained that the PALM-TREEs project operates across six African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, and South Africa.

He said in Lagos State,  the project has intervened in multiple communities across eight local government areas, providing infrastructure and livelihood support aimed at reducing vulnerability to climate extremes.

Among the interventions are a solar-powered borehole installed at Ogudu Police Barracks, Lagos State to support women’s vegetable farming and domestic water needs; smoke-less fish-smoking kilns and inverter deep freezers for fishing communities; irrigation equipment and farm tools; climate-resilient vegetable seedlings; shaded gazebo structures for communal activities; and fryers for cassava processing.

Professor Fasona added that the project also includes extensive capacity-building, such as training on land improvement, water infrastructure management, agro-forestry, soil enhancement, and household nutrition. 

The Geography scholar noted that over 3,500 seedlings of economic trees, including cashew, shea butter, and locust bean have been distributed to support agro-forestry practices.

“These interventions are designed to improve incomes, reduce losses during extreme events and market disruptions, and strengthen sustainable livelihoods for both men and women,” he said. 

Representatives of beneficiary communities, including Mrs. Foluke Omoladeyemi and Mrs. Felicia Olalekan, described the interventions as timely impacting and transparently inclusive, urging government agencies to adopt and scale up the project’s recommendations.

The PALM-TREEs project in Lagos, Nigeria is led by Professor Grace Oloukoi of Lead City University, in collaboration with Professor Mayowa Fasona of the University of Lagos and Professor Andrew Onwuemele of NISER. The project commenced in 2024 and continues to engage communities and policymakers in advancing climate-resilient development.