Jou nal o Social Sciences Vol. VIII, no. 1 (2025), pp. 132 - 144
Fascicle Social Science ISSN 2587-3490
Topic Sociology eISSN 2587-3504
Jou nal o Social Sciences Ma ch, 2025, Vol. 8
h ps://doi.o g/10.52326/jss.u m.2025.8(1).09
UDC 551.583:001 .8(669)
CLIMATE CHANGE-RELATED DISASTERS AND RISK REDUCTION THROUGH
INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE APPROACHES IN OSUN STATE, NIGERIA
Musediq Olu emi Lawal 1, ORCID: 0000-0002-3667-2533,
Habeeb Abdul au Salihu 2, ORCID: 0000-0002-6049-5143,
Abdullahi Kayode Ib ahim 2, ORCID: 0009-0007-1902-9398,
Obasanjo Solomon Balogun 2, ORCID: 0009-0006-2130-3539,
Tomisin Adedunmola Akangbe 2, ORCID: 0000-0002-4043-4175
1 Osun S a e Uni e si y, Osogbo, 210001, Nige ia
2 Uni e si y o Ilo in, 240003, Nige ia
* Co esponding Au ho : Musediq Olu emi Lawal, [email protected]
Recei ed: 02. 10. 2025
Accep ed: 03. 18. 2025
Abs ac . This s udy ocuses on people's isk educ ion echniques in esponse o eme ging
disas e s due o he cons an ly changing clima ic condi ions. Lib a y and A chi al da a on
disas e episodes in Osun S a e we e sou ced om selec ed lib a ies in Te ia y Ins i u ions
in he S a e. The s udy ocused on communi ies wi h unique indigenous echniques and a
his o y o consis en use o disas e managemen and isk educ ion wi hin he S a e. The
s udy u ilized an in e iewing echnique o ga he and eco d pa icipan s' pas expe iences,
ollowed by con en analysis and an e hnog aphic summa y o he ga he ed da a. The s udy
iden i ied he ype o disas e s expe ienced in he s udy se ings wi hin he s a e. This
included hose o igina ing om solid ea h (geophysical), hose caused by he occu ence,
mo emen , and dis ibu ion o wa e on ea h (hyd ological), clima e inclined like d ough s
and wild i es, wea he condi ions such as s o ms (me eo ological) as well as hose caused by
exposu e o li ing o ganisms and hei oxic subs ances o diseases such as disease epidemics
(biological). The s udy p o ed ha indigenous knowledge sys ems a e e ec i e in helping
communi ies manage and educe he isk o disas e s. This, in u n, explained why i was
consis en ly used o a e calami ies and alle ia e hei e ec s whene e hey did occu .
Keywo ds: clima e change, disas e , isk educ ion, indigenous knowledge echniques.
Rezuma . A icolul se concen ează pe ehnicile de educe e a iscu ilo pen u oameni ca
ăspuns la dezas ele eme gen e din cauza condițiilo clima ice în con inuă schimba e. Da ele
de a hi ă p i ind episoadele de dezas e din s a ul Osun au os obținu e din biblio eci
selec a e din ins i uțiile e ția e din s a . S udiul s-a concen a pe comuni ățile cu ehnici
indigene unice și cu o is o ie de u iliza e consec en ă pen u managemen ul dezas elo și
educe ea iscu ilo în cad ul s a ului. S udiul a olosi o ehnică de in e iu pen u a aduna
și a în egis a expe iențele an e ioa e ale pa icipanțilo , u ma ă de o analiză de conținu și
un ezuma e nog a ic al da elo colec a e. S udiul a iden i ica ipul de dezas e
M.O. Lawal, H.A.Salihu, A.K. Ib ahim, O.S. Balogun, A T.A.kangbe 133
Jou nal o Social Sciences Ma ch, 2025, Vol. 8
expe imen a e în mediile lua e în s udiu. Aces ea au inclus cele p o eni e din pămân solid
(geo izice), cele cauza e de apa iția, mișca ea și dis ibuția apei pe pămân (hid ologice),
sece a și incendiile de ege ație, condițiile me eo ologice ( u unile), p ecum și dezas ele
cauza e de expune ea la o ganisme ii și la subs anțele oxice ale aces o a, sau boli p ecum
epidemiile ( iscu i biologice). S udiul a demons a că sis emele de cunoș ințe indigene sun
e icien e în a aju a comuni ățile să ges ioneze și să educă iscul de dezas e. Aces luc u a
explica mo i ul olosi ii în mod cons an a aces o ehnici indigene pen u a p e eni
calami ățile și a a enua e ec ele lo o i de câ e o i au apă u .
Cu in e cheie: schimbă i clima ice, dezas e, educe ea iscu ilo , ehnici de cunoaș e e indigenă.
1. In oduc ion
Disas e s a e equen ly ea u ed in he news due o an inc easing numbe o
indi iduals alling p ey o a ious ypes o disas e s. Ca as ophic e en s, such as disas e s,
ha e led o se e e losses in human, animal, and plan li e, as well as inju ies, disabili ies, and
p ope y damage, wi h a nega i e impac on he en i onmen . The concep o a disas e has
unde gone a signi ican shi in in e p e a ion o e ime [1]. Du ing he ea ly s ages o human
and socie al g ow h, nume ous cul u es wo ldwide ended o pe cei e disas e s as
mani es a ions o di ine in e en ion [2], o mis akenly associa ed hem wi h supe na u al
o ces such as celes ial bodies, bad o une, and blind ai h [3,4]. As scien i ic p og ess
con inued, hese long-held disas e pe cep ions and eali ies began o be ques ioned.
Consequen ly, he shi in knowledge led o a change in he hema ic ocus and he me hod
o iden i ying disas e loca ions. The disas e 's physical e ec s and se e i y assessmen ,
p e iously measu ed by magni ude, ha e unde gone a shi in pe spec i e.
In con empo a y academic en i onmen s, disas e s a e ega ded as consequences o
inadequa ely managed isk. The iden i ied isks s em om a combina ion o exis ing haza ds
and ulne abili ies [5]. A eas ha a e p one o low ulne abili y bu a e a ec ed by haza ds
a e gene ally no conside ed disas e zones, simila o uninhabi ed egions. Se e e impac s
a e el by a communi y when a haza d s ikes an a ea wi h es ic ed esou ces, esul ing in
conside able damage, inancial losses, and conside able dis up ion o i s ou ine ac i i ies.
The inancial, physical, and ecological expenses a e g ea ly exceeding he communi y's
budge a y capaci y.
O e he pas ew decades, he numbe o epo ed disas e s has isen signi ican ly
wo ldwide. Fo ins ance, om 1975 o 1999, ewe han 300 disas e s occu ed annually.
Howe e , be ween 2000 and 2010, he a e age annual disas e coun ose o a ound 400. As
popula ions expand and socie ies become mo e in e connec ed and complex, he se e i y o
bo h na u al and human-caused disas e s has inc eased subs an ially [6-8]. Nume ous disas e s
s ike wi h li le p io no ice, such as o nadoes and landslides, while o he s de elop o e a pe iod o
ime, o en p eceded by wa ning signs, as seen wi h opical cyclones. Na u al disas e s can s em om
se e e wea he e en s and human ac ions such as bombings. Disas e s a e gene ally ca ego ised
based on hei unde lying cause, which can be ei he na u ally occu ing o caused by human ac i i ies [1].
Na u al haza ds such as d ough s, ea hquakes, epidemics, loods, and winds o ms a e dis inc om
disas e s. Two dis inc communi ies can ace he same haza d h ea ye a y in hei abili y
o adap [9-11].
Mos na u al and human-caused disas e s sha e common ou comes, including
ex ensi e physical des uc ion, loss o li e, physical impai men , and popula ion
displacemen , coupled wi h in e up ions o economic and social unc ions [12, 13]. Disas e
specialis s concen a e p ima ily on wo ypes o suscep ibili y. The ini ial poin o conce n is
134 Clima e change- ela ed disas e s and isk educ ion h ough indigenous knowledge app oaches in Osun…
Jou nal o Social Sciences Ma ch, 2025, Vol. 8
people's suscep ibili y o disas e s. This is he le el o isk o which people a e exposed.
Residing on a loodplain may in ol e issues such as a home being incapable o wi hs anding
looding, and he deg ee o which indi iduals can adap o i s e ec s h ough measu es like
heal hca e se ices and p ope y insu ance co e age. Vulne abili y o disas e s also exis s in
key ins i u ions o sys ems such as powe supplies, wa e supplies, hospi als, and eme gency
esponse ne wo ks.
O e he las o y yea s, ca as ophic occu ences including ea hquakes, d ough s,
loods, s o ms, i es, and olcanic e up ions ha e esul ed in subs an ial loss o human li e
and income; de as a ion o economic and social in as uc u e, and conside able
en i onmen al ha m. Ini ia i es aimed a sus ainable de elopmen and po e y alle ia ion
a e ulne able o disas e s caused by hyd o-me eo ological, geological, and en i onmen al
haza ds ha can be exace ba ed by human ac ions o echnological ad ancemen s [14]. Gu's
s udy [9] ound ha na u al disas e s like ea hquakes, loods, and hu icanes can cause
signi ican de as a ion o u ban a eas, esul ing in he des uc ion o in as uc u e and
housing, and esul ing in housands o inju ies and a ali ies. Disas e s ha e a mo e signi ican
impac on de eloping coun ies, wi h o e 95 pe cen o a ali ies esul ing om haza ds
occu ing he e, while economic losses om na u al haza ds ep esen 20 imes a la ge
pe cen age o G oss Domes ic P oduc in de eloping coun ies han in indus ialised na ions
[1,9,15].
Global disas e and isk awa eness ha e been escala ing, ye he o mula ion o well-
coo dina ed plans o disas e isk educ ion ini ia i es equen ly encoun e s undue
pos ponemen . A majo des uc i e e en is ypically he ca alys o an o icial s a egy o
be de eloped o mi iga e i s impac s. S udies ha e demons a ed ha local ini ia i es p o ide
a c ucial li eline, ypically ac ing as he main ac o in egula ing he equency o disas e
occu ences and educing associa ed isks un il he delay is esol ed [16,17]. Despi e he
appeal o his in o ma ion, he e emains a need o e eal mo e abou he cha ac e and
unc ioning o hese ini ia i es. Comp ehending he p ocedu es o iden i ying ulne abili ies
o disas e s and e alua ing he sui abili y o measu es o mi iga e associa ed isks will be
equally bene icial o his s udy. This esea ch aims o gain insigh in o he communi y's
awa eness and suscep ibili y o disas e s and s a egies o mi iga ing isk in Osun S a e,
Nige ia. The ini ia i e also aims o acknowledge and app ecia e exis ing non- adi ional
me hods being u ilised o add ess he si ua ion.
1.1 En i onmen al Disas e s and Managemen App oaches
The agili y o humans, which is wo sened by inadequa e planning o ine ec i e
eme gency managemen , esul s in inancial, en i onmen al, o human losses [18, 19]. In he
iew o Uddin e al. [20], he esul ing loss depends on he capaci y o he popula ion o
suppo o esis he disas e and i s esilience. The implica ion is ha disas e s occu when
haza ds mee ulne abili y [21]. The e o e, a na u al haza d will hence ne e esul in a
na u al disas e in a eas wi hou ulne abili y, e.g., s ong ea hquakes in uninhabi ed a eas.
Many na u al haza ds a e ela ed, o ins ance, ea hquakes can esul in sunamis, and
d ough can lead di ec ly o amine and diseases. A conc e e example o he di ision be ween
haza d and disas e is he 1906 San F ancisco ea hquake, which was a disas e [22,23].
Haza ds a e associa ed wi h po en ial u u e e en s, whe eas disas e s a e connec ed o pas
o ongoing e en s. Technological inno a ions such as ai c a , au omobiles, and indus ial
ad ancemen s lead o man-made disas e s. Human-made ca as ophes o en a ise om ci il
un es such as io s, as well as om unp o essional and eckless ac ions like i es, bu s
M.O. Lawal, H.A.Salihu, A.K. Ib ahim, O.S. Balogun, A T.A.kangbe 135
Jou nal o Social Sciences Ma ch, 2025, Vol. 8
pipelines, collapsed buildings, chemical leaks, ca acciden s, ood con amina ion, indus ial
epidemics, de o es a ion, wa , pollu ion, and plane c ashes, among o he inciden s.
Suscep ibili y o na u al disas e s is a mul i ace ed conce n in luenced by economic
in as uc u e, he na ion’s le el o de elopmen , p e ailing social and economic
ci cums ances, exis ing coping s a egies, isk e alua ion, disas e ecu ence and se e i y,
and o he ac o s. The po en ial consequences o low-income indi iduals may include being
denied access o essen ial se ices, a e e sal o gains in physical and human asse s, and a
ise in child labo and c iminal beha io . Resea ch has e ealed he impo ance o iden i ying
he in luence and impac ac o s o na u al disas e s. [13, 24]. This in o ma ion is aluable o
policymake s as i allows hem o unde s and he necessi y o ex e nal aid and de e mine
which solu ions a e mos e ec i e; i also enables he iden i ica ion o speci ic g oups
impac ed, such as low-income households (e c.), and can be use ul o planning disas e elie
and an icipa ing po en ial ou comes.
One o he key conce ns ega ding na u al disas e e ec s on communi ies and
esiden ial a eas is hei po en ial unp edic abili y. Yu e al. [25] also explained ha when
assessing he e ec s o na u al disas e s, i is essen ial o conside o he ac o s, including
mi iga ion s a egies, eme gency p epa edness, and elie e o s. Du a’s [26] s udy also
conside ed he a e ma h o o nadoes in he Uni ed S a es, e ealing ha he consequences
we e no en i ely unp edic able. This is because a ious ac o s, including en i onmen al,
o ganiza ional, demog aphic, and echnological ac o s, play a ole in de e mining he impac
o such disas e s.
1.2 His o ical Explo a ion o Disas e Managemen in Nige ia
The p ima y objec i e o disas e managemen is o mi iga e h ea s om bo h exis ing
and impending haza ds [24]. These haza ds can be ca ego ized in o h ee dis inc ca ego ies:
na u al, echnological, and complex eme gencies. The p ima y objec i e o na u al and
echnological haza ds planning is isk assessmen and mi iga ion. Ini ia i es o mi iga e and
p epa e o na u al and echnological disas e s ha e s emmed om he necessi y o sa egua d
communi ies om widesp ead h ea s ha a e endemic wi hin a gi en egion o
go e nmen al au ho i y [24, 27]. This app oach o isk educ ion and ci il p o ec ion was
es ablished h ough legisla ion, clea de ini ions o ins i u ional oles and dis ibu ion o
inancial esou ces om he op down, in conjunc ion wi h local esponses and communi y
pa icipa ion.
Es ablishmen o disas e managemen in Nige ia can be aced back o 1906, when
he Police Fi e B igade, now known as he Fede al Fi e Se ices, was ini ially se up o
unde ake asks beyond i e igh ing, including he p o ision o humani a ian aid and
eme gency assis ance o p o ec li es and p ope y. The Na ional Eme gency Managemen
Agency (NEMA) is a go e nmen agency esponsible o managing disas e s, as well as
educa ing he public o inc ease hei awa eness and mi iga e he impac s o disas e s wi hin
he coun y [28]. The o ganiza ion is a non-pa isan, non-p o i o ganiza ion s i ing o boos
public sa e y by s eng hening he coun y's capaci y o p epa e o , espond o and eco e
om eme gencies, disas e s and na ional secu i y isks [29].
In 1990, he Uni ed Na ions membe coun ies, including Nige ia, es ablished he
Na ional Commi ee o he In e na ional Decade o Na u al Disas e Reduc ion (IDNDR). In
line wi h he objec i es and goals o he IDNDR, Nige ia’s go e nmen in 1993 chose o widen
he scope o disas e managemen o encompass all aspec s o his ield. This includes
p e en ion, mi iga ion, esponse, and eco e y measu es. As a esul , Dec ee 119 o 1993
136 Clima e change- ela ed disas e s and isk educ ion h ough indigenous knowledge app oaches in Osun…
Jou nal o Social Sciences Ma ch, 2025, Vol. 8
ele a ed he agency’s s a us o an independen en i y, epo ing di ec ly o he P esidency, o
de elop o e a ching policies and di ec i es o disas e managemen in Nige ia and i s allied
na ions. The new agency should encompass a ious depa men s, including Sea ch and
Rescue, Policy and S a egy, In o ma ion, Educa ion and P e en ion, Adminis a ion, Finance
and Logis ics, Relie and Rehabili a ion and Resea ch and Planning [28,29].
2. Ma e ials and Me hods
Files om he Na ional Eme gency Managemen Agency (NEMA) and he Nige ia
Secu i y and Ci il De ense Co ps (NSCDC) we e used o iden i y communi ies ha a e a isk
o disas e s o ha e a high incidence o disas e . Communi ies wi h a his o y o disas e
occu ence we e speci ically iden i ied. The da a show ha he disas e nea ly a ec ed e e y
Local Go e nmen A ea in Osun S a e. This s udy ocused on u al a eas wi hin he s a e ha
ha e a his o y o expe iencing disas e s.
The ecogni ion o indigenous p ac ices’ alue o disas e isk assessmen and
mi iga ion led o limi ing he scope o his s udy o u al a eas. Communi y De elopmen
Associa ion esiden s and o icials wi hin he a eas we e also used as pa icipan s in he s udy.
They we e in ol ed in explo ing he s o ies behind disas e s, hei equency, and commonly
ecognized haza ds, as well as isk ulne abili y and me hods used o mi iga e such isks. The
chosen communi ies ep esen ed ou dis inc sub-e hnic g oups wi hin Osun S a e: I e,
Ijesha, Oyo, and Igbo. The communi ies chosen om each o hese g oups included
Gbengbeleku, O a idiya (I e), Dagbaja, Fadahunsi-Ogundele (Ijesha), Odeyinka, Omosan-Igbo
(Oyo), Abalagemo, and Awo o Ayedaade (Igbomina). Fi e esiden s om each selec ed
communi y pa icipa ed in in-dep h in e iews. One pa icipan om each o he selec ed
communi ies was chosen o pa icipa e in he in e iew sessions o he key in o man s.
Academics om he Uni e si y o Ibadan, Oba emi Awolowo Uni e si y in Ile-I e, and he
Fede al Uni e si y o Technology in Aku e we e chosen based on hei expe ise in disas e
managemen and indigenous knowledge sys ems, along wi h hei esea ch expe ience in
Clima ology. In his s udy, he g oup o pa icipan s was ca ego ized as key in o man s. The
s udy popula ion comp ised 53 pa icipan s. Da a ob ained om he pa icipan s we e
documen ed in acco dance wi h he me hods chosen by he pa icipan s, e lec ing a
commi men o e hical p inciples. The collec ed da a was subjec ed o con en and
e hnog aphic analyses. Some impo an quo a ions om pa icipan s du ing IDI and KII
sessions we e epo ed e ba im o u he illus a e he issues unde ocus.
3. Resul s and Discussion
The occupa ions o he pa icipan s comp ised ading, ci il se ice, a ming, and
a isanal wo k. Among he esponden s, he dis ibu ion by gende comp ised 28 males and
25 emales. No pa icipan is younge han 45 yea s. Almos all pa icipan s e e ed o owns
o communi ies ha ha e aced na u al disas e s in he pas . pas . F om he iewpoin s o he
indi iduals in ol ed, a disas e is pe cei ed as an unexpec ed, all-encompassing e en ,
encompassing majo heal h issues, a ali ies, signi ican inancial o social se backs wi hin
he household, loods, i es, building collapses, loss o li elihoods, ou b eaks, o communi y
displacemen esul ing om con lic , and any o he ad e se occu ences ha indi iduals
a ec ed a e unable o manage wi hou ex e nal suppo .
The o ms o disas e e e expe ienced in hei li e ime included epidemics like
chole a, oad acciden s, domes ic i e ou b eaks, o es i es, loods, explosions, and
en i onmen al pollu ion. Some o he pa icipan s in he in e iew sessions classi ied disas e
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Jou nal o Social Sciences Ma ch, 2025, Vol. 8
in o wo ca ego ies. In he wo ds o one o hem, disas e could be na u al and manmade and
he ela ionship be ween he wo is ha one is caused due o human e o , and he o he is
caused by God (Female IDI/Fa me /Abalagemo communi y/72 yea s old). Ano he submission
classi ied disas e in o un a ou able social si ua ions ha mani es ed in e ms o wa e , land,
o epidemic diseases (Male IDI/Fa me /Awo o Ayedaade communi y/66 yea s old).
3.1 Fac o s in luencing Occu ence o Disas e s and hei Impac s
A he ime when he disas e s occu ed las , only a hand ul o he pa icipan s could
gi e i s -hand accoun s o he la es disas e s men ioned. The majo i y elied on subsequen
na a ions om hei pa en s and hei elde ly wi hin he communi ies. The ac o s causing
disas e acco ding o he pa icipan s included mismanagemen o en i onmen al esou ces,
poo o absence o coping capaci y by hose a ec ed, poo o absence o esilience when
esponding o disas e s, poo o absence o knowledge o p ope en i onmen al managemen ,
absence o poli ical will owa ds p e en ion o ac i i ies ha a e inimical o posi i e
en i onmen al ou come (Male IDI/Fa me /Gbengbeleku communi y/56 yea s old). O he
ac o s men ioned by he pa icipan s included ailu e o adap and adop he home-g own
mechanisms used by he o bea e s in he pas o p e en o checkma e he occu ence o
disas e s (Female IDI/Fa me /O a idiya communi y/61 yea s old).
The impac s o disas e acco ding o he in o ma ion collec ed included displacemen
o he people om hei places o p ima y esidence, disloca ion o communi ies’ economic
ac i i ies, psychological auma which o en leads o heal h challenges, loss o jobs and
o ced mig a ion, and loss o human and na u al esou ces. The en i e s udy popula ion
a i med hei knowledge o au ho i y ha could be con ac ed in he e en o disas e s. Those
o be con ac ed in his si ua ion included he (a) head o he communi y, (b) leade s in he
communi y, (c) Secu i y and Ci il De ence Co ps, (d) Na ional Eme gency Managemen
Agencies h ough S a e Eme gency Managemen Agency, (e) Fede al Road Sa e y
Commission.
3.2 Na u e o Disas e s E e Wi nessed in he S udy Se ings
The na u e o disas e s ha ha e occu ed in he communi ies acco ding o he
pa icipan s in his s udy include epidemics, oad acciden s, domes ic i e ou b eaks, o es
i es, loods, d ough , amine, explosions, en i onmen al pollu ion, landslides, and
in es a ion. Among hese, he pa icipan s classi ied oad acciden s, domes ic i e ou b eaks,
and en i onmen al pollu ion as man-made while he emaining ones men ioned abo e we e
classi ied as na u al. Ou o hose classi ied as na u al disas e s, epidemics, loods, d ough s,
amine, and landslides we e no ed o ha e been in high occu ence in he pas . In he his o y
o each o he communi ies selec ed as he s udy se ings, epidemics, d ough , and amine
we e no ed o ha e occu ed se e ally. I was howe e no ed by a pa icipan ha epidemics
like chole a, dysen e y, yphoid, and ypical ailmen s a e common du ing na u al disas e s
such as loods.
Meanwhile, an oc ogena ian who pa icipa ed in his s udy e ealed an uncommon
scena io e e ed o as ‘ea h emo ’ as ha ing occu ed in he mid-1980s wi h a endan
disas e . Acco ding o him, he e en happened ac oss sou hwes e n Nige ia and his
communi y expe ienced i as well. The e en was sudden and ne e eoccu ed since hen. In
ano he submission, ano he pa icipan no ed ex eme hea as one o he disas e s she had
expe ienced in he li e ime. In he wo ds, a he ime when i happened, ex eme hea b ough
wi h i a si ua ion whe e one’s body could no main ain a no mal empe a u e (Male
138 Clima e change- ela ed disas e s and isk educ ion h ough indigenous knowledge app oaches in Osun…
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IDI/Fa me /Dagbaja communi y/74 yea s old). Ano he submission ha co obo a ed his
equally submi ed ha ex eme hea esul ed in a monumen al numbe o dea hs. In his
si ua ion, bo h he old and he young became sick while he indi iduals who we e o e weigh
easily became ulne able o he challenges occasioned by he ex eme hea (Female
IDI/Fa me /Fadahunsi-Ogundele communi y/77 yea s old).
In he case o d ough and amine, a emale pa icipan no ed ha i ually e e yone
in he communi y was auma ized. E e ywhe e became d ied. Su i al became di icul o
he human populace as well as he animals and he plan s. In he wo ds, when I expe ienced
d ough , he usual p ecipi a ion was ading away g adually, esul ing in a wa e sho age.
E e ybody became sick, ag icul u al p oduce became scan y so also was he ha sh na u e o
he physical en i onmen . The e ec s o an absence o adequa e wa e u he led o
imp o ising o ge po able wa e . I equally led o sou cing o wa e ha is o ques ionable
quali y. In he p ocess, all so s o heal h challenges eme ged leading o pandemonium
(Female IDI/Fa me /Gbengbeleku communi y/77 yea s old).
Recoun ing hei expe ience o d ough u he , he pa icipan s aced he a e ma h
o he eme gence o amine. Acco ding o one o hem, he absence o sho age o wa e
made he su i al o plan s and c ops impossible. The implica ion o his was inadequa e o
absence o ha es o human su i al. This subsequen ly led o an ex eme lack o ood and
o he basic needs hence s a a ion, dea h, and des i u ion. As people we e losing hei lo ed
ones, quie mig a ion was wi nessed. Many did no wai o succo om he go e nmen
be o e hey mo ed ou o he communi y o dis an se lemen s whe e li e was mo e bea able
(Male IDI/Fa me /O a idiya communi y/68 yea s old).
3.3 Indigenous App oach o Disas e Vulne abili y P edic ion
Mos o he pa icipan s a e ed ha cons an delibe a ion among he elde s and o he
s akeholde s wi hin he communi ies we e common s eps i s aken o ind las ing solu ions
o he p oblem. In he wo ds o one o hem, he palace o he adi ional ule s became he
mel ing po whe e he solu ions we e pe ec ed (Male IDI/Fa me /Omosan-Igbo
communi y/70 yea s old). Acco ding o ano he pa icipan , consul a ions wi h an o acle o
di ine guidance we e u he a i med as pa o he s eps (Female IDI/Fa me /Abalagemo
communi y/72 yea s old). Fu he phase acco ding o ano he pa icipan included he
moni o ing o he p og ession o haza ds wi h possible ad ice o go e n he beha io o he
communi ies (Male IDI/Fa me /Odeyinka communi y/72 yea s old). Mani es a ion o posi i e
esul s om he homeg own ideas on he way o wa d has assis ed in assuaging he su e ing
passed h ough by he people (Female IDI/Fa me /Abalagemo Communi y/72 yea s old). This
in he wo ds o ano he pa icipan has placed he indigenous p ac ices as indispensable
asse s in he minds o he people. The p ac ices equally allowed many communi ies o li e
wi h he disas e h ough he abili y o iden i y and p epa e o i s occu ence (Male
IDI/Fa me /Abalagemo Communi y/55 yea s old). Recalling wha he g and a he old he
abou he pas e en s o disas e , a pa icipan e ealed ha he o acle consul ed in hei
communi y manda ed he elde s and he King o go back o adi ional ways o managing he
si ua ion. This included c oss- e iliza ion o indigenous ideas ha a e cos -e ec i e. Along
wi h his, such delibe a ions ha e enabled ou people o app ecia e ha e e ybody is
suscep ible o disas e s hence he need o p o ec ion and sa e y o he people li ing in he
communi y (Female IDI/Fa me /Omosan-Igbo Communi y/57 yea s old).
Expe iences abou he de as a ing e ec s o disas e s ha e augh people abou he
eali y o indi iduals being ulne able o disas e s. This equally mo i a ed he people o ully
M.O. Lawal, H.A.Salihu, A.K. Ib ahim, O.S. Balogun, A T.A.kangbe 139
Jou nal o Social Sciences Ma ch, 2025, Vol. 8
emb ace p e en ion and mi iga ion app oaches (Male IDI/Fa me /O a idiya Communi y/68
yea s old). F om expe ience, people in ulne able ci cums ances we e ound o be
signi ican ly less able o ep esen hei in e es s, and mo e likely o su e ha m han he
a e age o he s (Female IDI/Fa me /Abalagemo Communi y/72 yea s old). Gi en his, i ually
e e yone in he communi ies is knowledgeable abou wha b eeds poo esis ance o
esponse when a disas e occu s. In he wo ds o an opinion leade in one o he communi ies,
i was es ablished ha people who li e on plains a e mo e ulne able o loods han people
who do no . P e en i e measu es agains disas e s hus assumed high p io i y due o he
es ablishmen ha people who a e aged, he young, indi iduals wi h poo heal h, he na u e
o he physical en i onmen and sani a y condi ions, as well as he quali y and s a e o local
buildings and hei loca ion conce ning any haza ds (Female IDI/Fa me /Omosan-Igbo
Communi y/57 yea s old). A clea case p esen ed by he pa icipan s was ha o de o es a ion.
People we e no ed as engaging in unsus ainable usage o o es esou ces wi hou minding
he likely implica ions. In he wo ds o one o he pa icipan s, a high le el o po e y, which
b ough abou he inabili y o make ends mee and he idea ha o es esou ces a e gi s o
na u e in o med a enous exploi a ion o he esou ces (Female IDI/Fa me /Fadahunsi-
Ogundele Communi y/71 yea s old). Fu he commen s poin ed ou ha , as people cu down
oo many ees a a as e pace han na u e can eplace hem, he si ua ion led o an inc ease
in he ulne abili y o many communi ies o ain. The ain alls on unp o ec ed soil, causing
mudslides, landslides, loods, and he like. Thus, he eali y o ob ious ulne abili y in he
popula ion helps o build communi y membe s' b a e y and esilience while also p omo ing
s onge bonds and in e ac ions wi h o he s (Female IDI/Fa me /Awo o Ayedaade
Communi y/78 yea s old).
3.4 Disas e Risk Reduc ion P ocesses in Communi ies
The g owing p e alence o disas e isk is a esul o people's ca e ee a i ude owa ds
en i onmen al managemen , acco ding o in e ac ions wi h s udy pa icipan s. Acco ding o
one pa icipan , a e acknowledging ha human ac o s make disas e s ine i able,
communi ies employ p edic ion and/o po en ial ea ly wa ning indica o s as a means o
imp o ing disas e isk educ ion (Female IDI/Fa me /Awo o Ayedaade Communi y/78 yea s
old). Fo example, e e y communi y ha has gone h ough a c isis has become mo e
knowledgeable and well-o ganized. Simila o wha is happening in ou communi y, we ge
oge he o discuss wha o do in he e en o an eme gency and o gauge ou deg ee o
eadiness. The communi y is now less suscep ible o calami ies as a esul (Male
IDI/Fa me /Dagbaja Communi y/74 yea s old). Fu he disclosu e came om ano he
submission, which demons a ed ha cons uc ing homes in high- isk a eas inc eases
people's ulne abili y. This is why i 's gene ally ag eed ha people shouldn' li e oo close
o a i e . Human se lemen s become mo e suscep ible o looding when ash is dumped
in o wa e ways. The e o e, his echnique was comple ely disapp o ed o o disas e - ee,
sus ainable li ing (Female IDI/Fa me /Odeyinka Communi y/65 yea s old). Acco ding o he
pa icipan s, he communi ies o en use adi ional songs and legends o in luence how
people espond o he looming agedies. People's beha io has imp o ed as a esul o
lea ning om hese legends and songs. Disas e s a ely happen when people ha e his
knowledge, con i ming he ole ha adi ional belie sys ems and associa ed ales play in
lowe ing he likelihood o disas e s (Male IDI/Fa me /O a idiya Communi y/68 yea s old).
The way a communi y esponds o a calami y is impac ed by i s cul u e and belie s.
Disas e s only occu ed when people we e no a peace wi h God and he spi i s, acco ding
140 Clima e change- ela ed disas e s and isk educ ion h ough indigenous knowledge app oaches in Osun…
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o he adi ional eligious belie s o he majo i y o he sampled esea ch loca ions' esiden s.
Ou s ance, acco ding o one o he pa icipan s in his s udy, is ha disas e s canno be
p e en ed once hey a e caused by speci ic ac o s, bu hei impac s can be lessened.
Acco ding o adi ional heale s, we hink ha e e y inciden , whe he i be spi i ual o bodily,
has a eason and ha he e may be a means o o e come i . Ano he adi ionalis ag ees ha
ce ain gods and dei ies c ea e hyd ological h ea s in eac ion o he unsani a y use o wa e
esou ces. Such use could include disposing o ash in i e s, among o he hings (Male
KII/Communi y Leade , Abalagemo Communi y/75 yea s old). To ale he locals o his
negligen en i onmen al beha io , nume ous pe sons ha e pe ished in he illage i e s. The
‘dei ies may pay a wa ning isi ’ o he adi ional heads o he illages when such inciden s
become common. In o he cases, o acles a e consul ed ega ding how o alida e he cause
and how o lessen he isks o calami ies. To lowe he isk, mi iga ion equen ly in ol es
co ec i e o p e en i e ac ions (Female KII/Communi y Leade , Odeyinka Communi y/69
yea s old). In ce ain cases, de e mining he numbe o people a lic ed and he p e alence
a e o he condi ion p o ides ea ly wa ning and a signal o ake ac ion. The majo i y o
communi ies in his s a e use adi ional knowledge. In his si ua ion, he majo i y o
communi ies use adi ional medical expe ise o ea he a ec ed pe sons by qua an ining
o cu ing hem (Female KII/Communi y Leade , Omosan-Igbo Communi y/65 yea s old).
3.5 Laby in hs o Ea ly Wa ning P ocess and P edic ion o Disas e s
People ge eady o he impending calami y by making easonable p edic ions abou
i s coming. Acco ding o he s udy's pa icipan s, his is based on hei combined expe iences
wi h he se e i y and a e e ec s o p e ious disas e s. To o e ell upcoming disas e s,
unusual beha io and es lessness among he ‘lowe ’ c ea u es a e ypically obse ed and
es ed o e ime. The beha io s o he communi ies' ‘lowe animals’ ypically unc ioned as
wa ning signs o impending calami ies and he necessi y o p ope planning o p e en hei
p obably disas ous esul s (Male KII/Academic, Uni e si y o Ibadan, Nige ia/56 yea s old).
Acco ding o ano he con ibu ion, he disas e scena io will be e alua ed o de e mine ways
o limi i s de as a ing impac s in cases when he e en could no be comple ely p edic ed
(Female KII/Academic, Fede al Uni e si y o Technology, Aku e, Nige ia/45 yea s old).
I was disco e ed ha e e y communi y has a ange o ea ly wa ning signs and
es ablished p ocedu es ha allow i o swi ly and e ec i ely use i s collec i e knowledge
o disas e esponse. Acco ding o one o he con ibu ing schola s, his inno a ion in
an icipa ing impending ca as ophes equi ed a ho ough analysis o he beha io o animals,
bi ds, insec s, plan s, ees, winds, ai and wa e empe a u es, clouds, ea h mo ions, and
celes ial bodies (Male KII/Academic, Oba emi Awolowo Uni e si y, Ile-I e, Nige ia/51 yea s
old). This also ac s as an ea ly wa ning sys em o impending disas e s, much as he abili y o
o ecas disas e s was made possible by he me iculous s udy and in e p e a ion o he
ac ions o li ing hings. This is pa o he indigenous knowledge sys em o nea ly e e y
communi y in his egion o he s a e (Female KII/Academic, Uni e si y o Ibadan, Nige ia/47
yea s old).
In he e en o an epidemic, ea ly wa ning usually akes place be o e he disease is
con ac ed by communi y membe s. Any wei d e en s ha a e obse ed a e in e p e ed by
he communi y membe s based on hei pe sonal expe iences (Male KII/Academic, Fede al
Uni e si y o Technology, Aku e, Nige ia/50 yea s old). This hus se es as wa ning signs o
ge hem p epa ed o wha e e h ea s migh happen. The exis ence o snakes and o he
ep iles, along wi h wild animals, nea homes eads in pu sui o ood and wa e , was
