The Climate of our Cities

In commemoration of World Environment Day, the Rooted Rising Initiative participated in The Climate of Our CitiesExhibition, a multi-stakeholder event organized by the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation, TechHerNG, ActionAid, YouthHubAfrica, and the Centre for Climate Action, Innovation and Engagement.

As a member of the HIVE network, Rooted Rising, with the generous support of TechHerNG and the Ford Foundation, used the exhibition as an opportunity to bring the realities of the Niger Delta into a national conversation through art.

The exhibition featured a collection of powerful paintings and visual narratives that reflected the lived experiences of communities affected by environmental degradation and climate injustice. Through each canvas, visitors encountered stories of loss, resilience, resistance, and hope—stories that are often overlooked in mainstream discussions about climate change.

A striking feature of the artworks was the recurring presence of expressive eyes. These eyes symbolized the lived realities of people in the Niger Delta: communities that continue to bear the social, economic, and environmental consequences of pollution, ecological destruction, and decades of neglect. Through these visual representations, the exhibition invited audiences to see beyond statistics and engage with the human faces behind environmental crises.

For Rooted Rising Initiative, art serves a purpose beyond aesthetics. It is a tool for storytelling, advocacy, and social transformation. The artworks challenged indifference, encouraged critical reflection, and created space for conversations about environmental justice and the urgent need for equitable climate action.

The exhibition also reinforced the importance of communities owning and telling their own stories. By centering local voices and experiences, Rooted Rising continues to promote narrative justice—ensuring that those most affected by environmental challenges have the opportunity to define and share their realities on their own terms.

Reflecting on the experience, the organization emphasized that meaningful climate action must include the stories, struggles, and aspirations of frontline communities. The exhibition provided a valuable platform to amplify these voices and place the realities of the Niger Delta within broader national and global conversations on climate and environmental justice.

Rooted Rising Initiative remains committed to using art, storytelling, and community engagement to foster awareness, inspire action, and contribute to a more just and sustainable future for all.