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1717172 Vol 9 · Issue 11 Download Paper

Climate Change Resilience and Mitigation Strategies Among Indigenous Communities in Azare, Northeast Nigeria: A Critical Review

Fatima S. Mohammed, PhD Sani Ismaila

Subject area: Science,Engineering and Technology  ·  Area of research: Climate and Mitigation

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I11-1717172

Abstract

Northeast Nigeria is currently at the epicenter of Sub-Saharan climate instability, characterized by rapid desertification, hydrological stress, erratic precipitation and rising temperatures. This paper provides a systematic review of the climate change impacts on indigenous communities in the Azare region, focusing on the intersection of socio-economic vulnerability and Environmental Health. By synthesizing data on the shrinking of Lake Chad and shifting rainfall patterns, the review identifies critical gaps in current adaptation frameworks. Central to this discussion is the role of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) in providing localized resilience. The findings suggest that while IKS offers a baseline for survival, it must be integrated with modern Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Environmental Health Officer (EHO) roles to ensure long-term sustainability. Furthermore, it evaluates the efficacy of traditional ecological knowledge in mitigating environmental stressors and proposes culturally and environmentally appropriate mitigation strategies that bridge indigenous practices with modern environmental health sciences. The paper concludes with policy recommendations for integrating community-led mitigation into Nigeria’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP).

Keywords

Climate Resilience, Indigenous Knowledge, Environmental Health, Azare, Northeast Nigeria

References

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[2] Amare, G., & Gacheno, D. (2021). Indigenous knowledge for climate smart agriculture: A review. International Journal of Food Science and Agriculture, 5(2), 332–338.

[3] Audu, E. B. (2021). Indigenous knowledge and climate change adaptation in Northern Nigeria. Zaria: Ahmadu Bello University Press.

[4] Buba, A. (2022). Socio -economic vulnerabilities of agro-pastoralists to climate variability in Bauchi State, Nigeria. Climate and Development, 14(3), 215-227.

[5] Federal Ministry of Environment (Nigeria). (2021). National Adaptation Plan Framework. Abuja: Department of Climate Change.

[6] Folke, C., et al. (2021). Our future in the Anthropocene biosphere. Ambio, 50(4), 834– 869. https:// 01503-7

[7] Gbetkom, M., et al. (2023). Environmental degradation and hydrological stress in the Lake Chad Basin. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 198, 104715.

[8] Iliya, S., et al. (2021). Rainfall variability and its impact on crop production in the Sudano- Sahelian zone of Nigeria. Science of the Total Environment, 788, 147820.

[9] Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2023). Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report. IPCC.

[10] IPCC. (2023). Climate Change 2023: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press.

[11] Mashi, S. A., et al. (2023). Moving from global to local: An analysis of the use of indigenous knowledge in climate change adaptation in rural Nigeria. Environmental Management, 71(1), 112–125.

[12] Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET). (2025). 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP). Abuja, Nigeria.

[13] Nyong, A., Adesina, F., & Osman Elasha, B. (2017). The value of indigenous knowledge in climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies in the African Sahel. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 12(5), 787-797.

[14] Olagunju, T. E. (2015). Drought, desertification and the Nigerian environment: A review. Journal of Ecology and the Natural Environment, 7(7), 196-209.

[15] Urama, K. C., & Odediran, O. O. (2022). Limitations of traditional ecological knowledge in the face of rapid climate shifts in West Africa. Environmental Research, 204, 112045.

[16] World Bank. (2022). Toward Climate- Resilient Development in Nigeria. Washington, DC: World Bank Group.

[17] World Health Organization (WHO). (2024). Climate change and health: Fact sheet. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact- sheets/detail/climate-change-and-health

How to cite this paper

Fatima S. Mohammed, PhD, Sani Ismaila "Climate Change Resilience and Mitigation Strategies Among Indigenous Communities in Azare, Northeast Nigeria: A Critical Review" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 9 Issue 11 2026 Page 234-241 https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I11-1717172
Fatima S. Mohammed, PhD, Sani Ismaila "Climate Change Resilience and Mitigation Strategies Among Indigenous Communities in Azare, Northeast Nigeria: A Critical Review" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, vol. 9, no. 11, May. 2026, doi: https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I11-1717172
Fatima S. Mohammed, PhD, Sani Ismaila (2026). Climate Change Resilience and Mitigation Strategies Among Indigenous Communities in Azare, Northeast Nigeria: A Critical Review. Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 9(11). doi: https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I11-1717172
Fatima S. Mohammed, PhD, Sani Ismaila "Climate Change Resilience and Mitigation Strategies Among Indigenous Communities in Azare, Northeast Nigeria: A Critical Review" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, vol. 9, no. 11, May. 2026. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I11-1717172
@article{1717172,
      author = {Fatima S. Mohammed, PhD, Sani Ismaila},
      title = {Climate Change Resilience and Mitigation Strategies Among Indigenous Communities in Azare, Northeast Nigeria: A Critical Review},
      journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
      year = {2026},
      volume = {9},
      number = {11},
      pages = {234-241},
      issn = {2456-8880},
      url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1717172.pdf},
      abstract = {Northeast Nigeria is currently at the epicenter of Sub-Saharan climate instability, characterized by rapid desertification, hydrological stress, erratic precipitation and rising temperatures. This paper provides a systematic review of the climate change impacts on indigenous communities in the Azare region, focusing on the intersection of socio-economic vulnerability and Environmental Health. By synthesizing data on the shrinking of Lake Chad and shifting rainfall patterns, the review identifies critical gaps in current adaptation frameworks. Central to this discussion is the role of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) in providing localized resilience. The findings suggest that while IKS offers a baseline for survival, it must be integrated with modern Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Environmental Health Officer (EHO) roles to ensure long-term sustainability. Furthermore, it evaluates the efficacy of traditional ecological knowledge in mitigating environmental stressors and proposes culturally and environmentally appropriate mitigation strategies that bridge indigenous practices with modern environmental health sciences. The paper concludes with policy recommendations for integrating community-led mitigation into Nigeria’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP).},
      keywords = {Climate Resilience, Indigenous Knowledge, Environmental Health, Azare, Northeast Nigeria},
      month = {May},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I11-1717172}
  }