This study explores how demystifying Earth Observation (EO) through co-creation path-16 ways and local language can enhance flood resilience and environmental governance in 17 African informal cities. Using case studies from Maiduguri and Hadejia, Nigeria, the re-18 search employed a transdisciplinary mixed-methods design combining rapid evidence as-19 sessment, surveys, participatory workshops (n = 50 stakeholders) integrating simplified 20 Sentinel-1/2 demonstrations, indigenous knowledge mapping, and pre-/post-engagement 21 surveys. Participants (non-experts) were trained to interpret satellite data in both Hausa 22 and English, linking distant teleconnections with local flood experiences. Findings re-23 vealed significant gains in EO literacy and improvements in interpretive confidence, gen-24 der-inclusive participation, and policy engagement. The use of local learning process en-25 abled participants to translate technical EO concepts into locally meaningful narratives, 26 fostering cognitive empowerment and practical application in flood preparedness and ad-27 vocacy. The study demonstrates that data democratization is not only a matter of open 28 access but also of open understanding. It advances a conceptual model linking Demysti-29 fication, Literacy, Empowerment, Co-Production and Resilience, positioning EO as a so-30 cial technology that bridges scientific and indigenous knowledge systems. The findings 31 contribute to debates on decolonizing environmental science and propose a participatory 32 framework for integrating EO into community-based adaptation, legal accountability, and 33 policy reform across Africa’s rapidly urbanizing landscapes.

Urban development disturbs the ecological balance by increasing imperviousness of land and diminishing green cover. Over recent decades, researches have brought to light the importance of urban greenery and its role in sustaining the environment of cities and towns around the world. Urban growth in Kano metropolis has been quite significant over a few decades and activities have been enhanced towards intolerable limits, making proper management of the outcomes of such activities near impossible; resulting in degraded environments. This growth is attributed to several factors which include increase in population, rural-urban migration, unplanned settlements and increasing built-up areas. This continuous increase in urban population has put a lot of strain on existing infrastructure and natural environment. This study examined the relationship between changes in Land use land cover (LULC) and the implications on vegetation density in Kano metropolis. Data used were sourced from Landsat images for 1998, 2002, 2013 and 2018 from which the Built-Up Index (BUI) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were extracted and the Correlation coefficient analysis was carried. Results of the correlation between NDVI and BUI for the periods of study show there is a strong negative linear relationship between vegetation density and building density indicating that there has been decreasing vegetation density with increasing building density. The study recommends that Urban Policies should be developed towards encouraging urban greening as well as enactment of strong laws to protect green areas.

This study explores how demystifying Earth Observation (EO) through co-creation pathways and local language can enhance flood resilience and environmental governance in African informal cities. Using case studies from Maiduguri and Hadejia, Nigeria, the research employed a transdisciplinary mixed-methods design combining rapid evidence assessment, surveys, participatory workshops (n = 50 stakeholders) integrating simplified Sentinel-1/2 demonstrations, indigenous knowledge mapping, and pre-/post-engagement surveys on EO familiarity. Non-expert participants were trained to interpret satellite data using local language, linking distant teleconnections with local flood experiences. The findings revealed significant gains in EO literacy and improvements in interpretive confidence, gender-inclusive participation, and policy engagement. Localizing the curriculum enabled participants to translate technical EO concepts into locally meaningful narratives, fostering cognitive empowerment and practical application in flood preparedness and advocacy. The study demonstrates that data democratization is not only a matter of open access but also of open understanding. It advances a conceptual model linking Demystification, Literacy, Empowerment, Co-Production and Resilience, positioning EO as a social technology that bridges scientific and indigenous knowledge systems. The findings contribute to debates on decolonizing environmental science and propose a potential participatory framework for integrating EO into community-based adaptation, legal accountability, and policy reform across Africa’s rapidly urbanizing landscapes.