On Wednesday, 22^nd November 2023, Agora Policy hosted a high-level policy conversation on “Nigeria, Climate Change and the Green Economy.” Held in Abuja and supported by the MacArthur Foundation, the event was organised in partnership with the Shehu Musa Yar'Adua Foundation, The Cable Newspapers, Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Centre for Climate Change and Development (CCCD), Clean Technology Hub, and Nature News.  

The event was attended by key stakeholders from diverse fields across the public and private sectors, reflecting a growing collective commitment to addressing the mounting challenges posed by climate change to Nigeria’s economy.

The welcome address was given by Mr. Waziri Adio, the founder and Executive Director of Agora Policy, and followed by opening remarks from Dr Kole Shettima, the Country Director of the MacArthur Foundation. Both remarks emphasized the urgency of addressing climate change in Nigeria while also highlighting the importance of sustainable policies in Nigeria’s journey towards a just energy transition.

Goodwill messages were delivered by the following: Dr. Shubham Chaudhuri, Country Director, World Bank; Dr. Tayo Aduloju, CEO Designate of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG); and Mr Johannes Lehne, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Germany in Nigeria. Their messages stressed the importance of a timely energy transition for Nigeria's development, the need to scale advocacy for policy change and socio-economic transformation as well as Nigeria's increased responsibility in global climate sustainability.

The public presentation of the report was then given by the lead author, Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, Director of the Centre for Climate Change & Development (CCCD), who outlined the report’s key findings and recommendations.

This was followed by a panel discussion on the nexus between climate changeand the green economy in Nigeria. The panellistswere Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, CEO, Sterling Bank; Mrs. Olufunke Baruwa, Programme Officer, Ford Foundation;Professor Emmanuel Oladipo, Chairman, Policy Advisory Panel, Resource and Environmental Policy Research, University of Nigeria, Nsukka; and Ms. Tengi George-Ikoli, Senior Officer, Natural Resource Governance Institute.The panel was moderated by Mr. Amara Nwankpa, Director of Public Policy Initiatives at the Shehu Musa Yar'Adua Foundation.

Several special interventions were made, which added more nuance and perspectives to the conversation. There were remarks from Ms Anne Marie Abaagu, Executive Director, Women Environmental Programme (WEP); Dr Akinyemi Akinyugha, Ekiti State Project Coordinator for the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP); and Mrs Emem Okon, Executive Director at Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre.

Other notable personalities at the event included: Ms Drita Dade, Senior Environmental Specialist, World Bank Group; Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, Chairman of the Editorial Board of ThisDay newspapers; Rev. David Ugolor, Executive Director of ANEEJ; Mr Simon Kolawole, Publisher, The Cable Newspapers; Mr Aliu Akoshile, Publisher, Nature News; Ms. Lois Auta, Founder/CEO CEDAR Seed Foundation; Dr Chido Onumah, Coordinator, African Centre for Media & Information Literacy; Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, Publisher of NPO Reports; Mr. Jibril Shittu, Executive Director, PPDC; Mr Eghosa Omoigui, Assistant Director, Nigeria Governors Forum; Mr. Umar Yakubu, Executive Director, Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Integrity Watch; Mr. Olusegun Elemo, Executive Director, PLSI; and Mr. Akintunde Babatunde, Program Director, CJID.

 Below are some of the pictures from the event …