POPs Awareness Campaign Empowers Farmers in Nassarawa State
On October 2nd and 4th, 2025, our team at YouPaD journeyed to the quiet farming communities of Gurku Sama and Gurku Kasa in Nassarawa State. Beneath the soil that sustains these communities lies a silent threat: Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). These invisible toxins, hidden in everyday farm chemicals like fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, find their way into the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe, slowly threatening the health and future of the very people who feed our nation.
Our initiative, funded by the GEF Small Grants Programme implemented by UNDP, was not just about highlighting a problem but about co-creating solutions. We engaged directly with farmers, demonstrating the long-term health risks of bioaccumulation in body tissues and discussing safer, more sustainable alternatives. The core of our intervention was to empower these communities with the knowledge to protect their land and their health.
“Empowering local farmers with knowledge is the most sustainable way to protect both community health and agricultural livelihoods. YouPaD‘s work here, in partnership with organizations like Ecocykle and Basic Rights Watch, is a vital link in that chain.”
— SGP Nigeria Representative
Beyond education, we took practical steps by installing safe waste management systems for chemical containers and other hazardous materials. This hands-on approach ensures that the awareness we build is supported by the infrastructure needed for lasting change. A sustainable future begins with informed communities, and every cleaner harvest and breath counts.
Gallery: On The Ground in Nassarawa
Explore key moments from our two-day engagement, from community dialogues to the installation of practical solutions.
