How can sophisticated climate modeling tools be made accessible to developing countries to make climate policy assessments more evidence-based, inclusive, and accessible? International experts tackled this question head-on at a UN Climate Change side event on Artificial Intelligence and Technological Advancements for Policy Impact Assessment, held on June 21, 2025, during the UN June Climate Meetings (SB62) in Bonn.
Participants at the UN Climate Change side event on Artificial Intelligence and Technological Advancements for Policy Impact Assessment,
The highlight of the event was the launch of the Climate Policy Impact Assessment General Equilibrium Model (CPIA-GEM) interface, developed by UN Climate Change and the Katowice Committee of Experts (KCI). Angélica Romero, a member of the Katowice Committee of Experts on the Impacts of the Implementation of Response Measures (KCI), officiated the launch.
“This interface has been designed to help make sophisticated modeling tools accessible to more stakeholders by simplifying how users interact with complex economic models,” said Romero.
”I see the wealth of tools that are available for impact assessment, but these tools are often inaccessible, and that’s why the work of the KCI and the UNFCCC to bring this tool into play is just so important,” said Lindsay Shutes, Consultant Economist at Elevate Economics, who took part in developing the interface.
The user-friendly platform allows stakeholders to set custom policy scenarios (such as carbon pricing and emission reduction targets), select geographic scope, upload relevant data, and run simulations to explore impacts on global emissions, growth, and trade. Users can visualize results through intuitive graphs and charts with just a click of the mouse, including scenario comparisons and country-level outcomes. The interface currently features global and country models, with additional country models planned for future release.
The tool addresses a critical gap in climate policy planning, where socioeconomic impact assessments often remain secondary considerations due to capacity constraints. Many countries continue to face challenges in conducting robust policy impact assessments, interpreting findings, and integrating them effectively into policy decisions. Persistent obstacles include limited availability of disaggregated data, insufficient technical modeling capacity, and over-reliance on external consultants.
The interface’s effectiveness was demonstrated during a training session two years ago in the Maldives, where 19 participants with limited technical backgrounds successfully designed and ran their own policy scenarios. Participants were able to identify conflicting national policies – such as taxing diesel imports while subsidizing diesel-based electricity—highlighting the tool’s potential to guide more coherent policymaking.
“In designing interfaces for sophisticated models, the underlying architecture must provide security, scalability, reliability, availability, and performance compliance,” said Pradeep Jain, Principal Technology Architect at Discover, who spoke at the side event.
The UAE added momentum to the initiative by sharing its national AI integration plan, including the open-source Falcon language model, underlining a commitment to sharing innovation globally. Experts also emphasized the importance of ethics, transparency, and emphasized the need for human oversight in AI-assisted policy assessment.
The CPIA-GEM interface aims to bridge capacity gaps and empower governments, analysts, and communities to co-create better informed, more equitable policy decisions. This launch represents part of KCI’s broader effort to build capacity and make impact assessments and economic modeling more accessible to policymakers and stakeholders, aligning with principles of just transition and inclusive climate action.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has adopted a National Flood Insurance Policy (NFIP) aimed at addressing the growing threat of flood-related disasters across the country.
Delegates at the Technical Committee Meeting (TCM) on the Development of the National Flood Insurance Policy and Implementation Framework, in Abja
The initiative was announced on Thursday, June 26, 2025, in Abuja during the Technical Committee Meeting (TCM) on the Development of the National Flood Insurance Policy and Implementation Framework.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Mr. Mahmud Kambari, said the policy would reduce the financial burden on both federal and state governments currently allocated to emergency relief and post-disaster reconstruction.
Kambari, who was represented by Mr. Kunle Awojemila, Deputy Director in the Department of Flood Erosion Control and Coastal Management, said the NFIP is a proactive response to the increasing frequency and severity of flooding in Nigeria.
“The time has come to shift from reactive responses to proactive and sustainable flood risk management.
“The establishment of a National Flood Insurance Programme as outlined in Section Four of the National Erosion and Flood Control Policy (NEFCOP) is central to this strategy,” he said.
He added that the NFIP would serve as a financial safety net for individuals, businesses, and communities, enabling swift recovery from flood-induced losses and ensuring long-term resilience.
The technical committee, he noted, would define clear timelines, assign responsibilities, and develop monitoring mechanisms to ensure the policy’s effective implementation.
Also speaking, Mrs. Rukayat El Rufai, Special Adviser to the President on National Economic Council and Climate Change, stressed the need to prioritise flood insurance to secure a more resilient future for Nigerians.
El Rufai, represented by Mrs. Inna Audu, Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian Affairs, noted that many communities along the River Benue, River Niger, and their tributaries are primarily agrarian and suffer devastating losses due to seasonal flooding.
“When you talk about insurance, it is not something to be done after disaster strikes. It is a preparedness mechanism, an anticipated action. Contributions must be made in advance to create a fund for emergencies,” she said.
She lamented the enormous economic and human toll of recurring floods in Nigeria, adding: “We can only estimate the trillions of naira lost to flooding in recent years, losses to farms, properties, and lives.
“While lives cannot be quantified in naira, we can protect the most vulnerable from financial ruin”.
El Rufai observed that current insurance policies often bundle flood coverage under general packages, which fail to adequately address specific flood risks.
She advocated for standalone flood insurance policies, which she said offer clearer and more comprehensive protection, promote better risk management, and support disaster recovery efforts.
Earlier, Mr. Usman Bokani, Director of the Erosion and Coastal Zone Management Department, said the national framework would guide the implementation of a robust and inclusive flood insurance system.
Bokani, represented by Mr. Abdullahi Atta, Assistant Director, Coastal Zone Management, said the policy aims to protect vulnerable populations, support rapid post-flood recovery, and enhance national resilience.
“We will explore models for financing, risk pooling, regulatory alignment, and delivery mechanisms at the community level,” he said.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) says it has uncovered an emerging coordinated sabotage campaign being waged by a syndicate of known and faceless actors, within and outside the organisation.
Mr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, New GCEO, NNPC Ltd
A statement issued on Friday, June 27, 2025, by the management of NNPC Ltd., said that the group was actively spreading lies and misinformation simply to discredit the company’s leadership.
The company said the group was spreading such misinformation to derail the organisation’s ongoing transformation into a corruption-free, performance-driven energy company, in line with the mandate of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Their tactics include planting scandalous and fabricated reports, curated to distract leadership, mislead the public, and undermine the commitment of our dedicated workforce and reform-minded Nigerians.
“These are calculated efforts by those who feel threatened by reform, transparency, accountability, and change, a clear evidence of the lengths to which they will go to obstruct the transformation of Nigeria’s foremost energy institution.
“We expect a surge of defamatory content in the days and weeks ahead but NNPC Ltd. remains undeterred. The transformation is underway, and no amount of sabotage will stop it,” it said.
NNPC Ltd. urged its dedicated staff, stakeholders, and all patriotic Nigerians to stay focused, ignore the noise and not be discouraged.
A civil society organisation committed to environmental justice and democratic reform, Connected Advocacy, has unveiled a proposal to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process against the growing threat of climate change.
Executive Secretary of Connected Advocacy, Mr. Israel Orekha
This is contained in statement signed by the Executive Secretary of Connected Advocacy, Mr. Israel Orekha, made available on Friday, June 27, 2025, in Lagos.
The proposal is titled: “Strengthening Nigeria’s Democracy through Electoral Climate Reform.”
Orekha said the proposal introduces the National Electoral Climate Preparedness Protocol, a first-of its kind, designed to ensure elections remain credible, accessible, and resilient despite climate-related disruptions such as flooding, extreme weather, and displacement.
“Recent elections have shown how climate risks can undermine logistics, suppress voter turnout, and erode public trust.
“We can no longer treat environmental hazards as separate from democratic integrity. This reform is essential to protect the voices of millions,” Orekha said.
He listed key interventions in the protocol to include embedding climate risk assessments in electoral planning and enabling emergency voting options in disaster-affected communities.
Others are securing voter registers with off-site digital backups, building inter-agency coordination between INEC, NEMA, NiMET and National Council on Climate Change/Federal Ministry of Environment and security agencies.
Orekha said the proposal outlined a phased implementation timeline, from stakeholder consultations and piloting in high-risk states to nationwide rollout and institutionalisation over the next three years.
He called on INEC, the National Assembly, development partners, and civil societies to support this innovative approach and position Nigeria as Africa’s leader in climate-adaptive electoral systems.
Thousands around the world are holding mobilisations in time for the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4), a once-in-a-decade gathering of governments held under the auspices of the United Nations to agree on international responses to urgent finance issues.
The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), is taking place in Sevilla, Spain from June 30 to July 3, 2025
Movements, civil society groups, communities and publics are mobilising in 41 countries, in 149 cities, towns, and districts from June 27 to 29, 2025.
The global actions are calling for a transformation of the international financial system, as well as immediate demands such as debt cancellation, wealth taxes, and the delivery of climate finance. Movements and civil society groups are challenging Global North governments and the UN system to take the lead in bridging the development and climate finance gap, estimated to be in the trillions.
A core part of this is financial reparations for historical and continuing injustices inflicted by the Global North on the peoples of the Global South.
According to Jean Saldanha, director of EURODAD:“The global financial architecture is dominated by rich countries and not responsive to the needs and priorities of the global south. It is in the interest of all of us, in the global south and north, to build a Financing for Development system that reduces inequality, provides stability and ensures adequate public finance for climate change. Yet the global north has chosen to defend an unjust status quo instead of seizing this opportunity to advance essential reforms that would give the global south a seat at the decision-making table. We in civil society will continue to demand this reform, before, in and after Sevilla.”
Civil society organisations and movements are reiterating the urgent demand for debt cancellation and calling for a UN Framework Convention on Debt Convention to pave the way for a democratic, multilateral and transparent mechanism to address unsustainable and illegitimate debt. They assert that it is vital to move away from creditor-dominated forums that have failed to prevent and resolve the accumulation of unsustainable and illegitimate debts and have resulted in debt relief schemes that protect creditor interests. In 2022, developing countries paid $49 billion more to their external creditors than they received in fresh disbursements.
UN Member States are also being challenged by civil society to support and ensure a robust outcome from the negotiations for the UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation, in order to effectively address international tax abuse, avoidance and evasion especially by multinational corporations and elites, which are resulting in losses in public revenues of at least $492 billion a year. Similarly, there is strong clamor for wealth taxes to help mobilize the trillions needed for sustainable development and climate action.
Dereje Alemayehu, executive coordinator of Global Alliance for Tax Justice, said: “The international tax system is broken. Developed by the ‘rich countries’ club’ of the OECD, it has failed to deliver the resources urgently needed for public services, development, human rights, gender equality, and climate justice. Tax abuse by the rich and multinational corporations has instead taken these resources, deepening the debt crisis faced by so many of our countries. Now, a historic process is underway as countries will meet in August to begin negotiations on a UN Tax Convention. We expect all UN Member States to negotiate in good faith to deliver a robust Framework Convention and two early protocols.”
In addition to debt service payments and tax abuse, developing countries’ public coffers are being depleted by climate disasters. Developed countries that have historically caused the climate crisis are legally obligated by the UN Climate Convention to cover the costs of climate mitigation, adaptation, loss and damage and just transition in developing countries. Although developed countries have long claimed that they lack the public funds for climate finance, research has shown they can raise trillions by taxing polluters and profiteers, redirecting fossil fuel subsidies, and redistributing even just a fraction of their enormous military budgets.
Civil society organisations and climate activities emphasise that climate finance must be delivered in the form of public, predictable, grants-based finance, instead of loans that will only exacerbate the already unsustainable debt crises in the developing world.
Tasneem Essop, executive director of Climate Action Network International, said: “The world is on fire – and the systems meant to protect us are feeding the flames. The intersecting crises of debt, climate collapse, and inequality are not abstractions – they are lived realities for people in the Global South, every single day. While governments dither and elites profit, it’s up to us to raise the alarm and demand justice. We will not stand by while wealth is siphoned from our communities, our land, our labour, to line the pockets of corporations and the ultra-rich. We will not be silenced.”
Aid cuts recently announced by the US, UK, and other Global North governments will also make it much harder for developing countries to address immediate financial needs arising from the multiple crises and undertake systems wide changes for a rapid, equitable and just transition to sustainable and climate resilient societies. Civil society groups are denouncing the cuts and asserting that aid must not be seen as charity but rather part of the reparations owed to the South.
Lidy Nacpil, the coordinator of the Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development, said: “What our world needs is a massive transfer of resources from North to South, as part of the reparations we are owed for historical injustice. For centuries, the people of the Global South have been exploited, and our natural resources have been plundered – all to enrich the elites and governments of the Global North. Their enormous wealth was accumulated at the expense of our people and planet, and it is past time for them to pay up for the damage they’ve done.”
The different protest actions denounce the Global North governments for spending trillions on subsidies for fossil fuels, on wars and genocide, on militarization and domestic authoritarian operations while failing to deliver their financial obligations.
Bronwen Tucker, public finance lead of Oil Change International, said:“We’re facing record-breaking cost-of-living, record-breaking fossil fuel production, and a record-breaking debt crisis. These problems are connected. They are all driven by a financial system that is catering to a tiny number of billionaires and CEOs. The only thing that can stop this is record-breaking people power. That is why we are on the streets today. At the last Financing for Development a decade ago, a UN Convention to rewrite tax rules was rejected, but now it has been won because of persistence from Global South governments and civil society. A UN Convention on debt is next. It’s incredibly shortsighted for the EU, Canada, Japan, and UK to be blocking this.”
Civil society has called for wider social transformation and a just transition to new modes of production, distribution, and consumption that prioritize peoples’ needs over profit. To achieve this, the inequitable economic and political relations between countries must change, and the institutions that control global economic and financial governance must be transformed.
Patricia Miranda, global advocacy director of LATINDADD (Latin American Network for Economic, Social and Climate Justice): “Debt is the greatest challenge for the Fourth Financing for Development Conference. As we face a new debt crisis trapped in a system that concentrates power in few hands, it is urgent to initiate real reform and lay the foundations for truly democratic governance. A UN Convention on Sovereign Debt, in which all countries have a voice, can deliver fair, sustainable and equitable solutions for all.”
Jenny Ricks, general secretary of Fight Inequality Alliance: “We are living in the era of the billionaire, but this is also a time of a debt crisis. Across the Global South, people are not waiting for summits to create a just world – we are on the streets to demand it. Governments need to hear the urgent cries for systemic changes like debt cancellation and taxes on the super rich, not cosmetic tweaks.”
Ingo Ritz, director of Global Call to Action Against Poverty: “As a European I am ashamed. In the FfD4 negotiations the EU – together with other rich countries – blocked the proposals from the global south to solve the global debt and financing crisis. These northern governments are defending the status quo – an international financial architecture that protects the interests of big corporations. Billions of people are suffering under austerity and conditionalities of IMF and World Bank that cut public services, increase inequality and create poverty and hunger. To ensure health, education and social protection for all we need a transformed financial international architecture.”
Absolom Jim, chapter lead of Debt for Climate: “The FFD4 process has proved a façade, another Global North-sponsored theatre where the debt noose around our necks is tightened under the disguise of false solutions. Zimbabwe and much of Africa are not asking for charity, we’re demanding system change. We reject debt swaps, delays, and greenwashed gimmicks. The time for compromise is over. The world must hear this from Africa: cancel the debt and dismantle colonial finance.”
Petro Damian, chapter lead of Debt for Climate: “Africa is rich in people, culture, and resources yet trapped in debt it did not create. We demand the cancellation of illegitimate debt and the creation of a fair financial system that allows our continent to thrive, not just survive.”
Arjun Bhattarai, co-chair of Global Call to Action Against Poverty:“We need to halt the debt crisis and prevent it from occurring again. Economic Justice is the key to ending poverty, reducing inequalities and solving the climate crisis.”
Danida Project – an initiative aimed at tackling period poverty in Nigeria through the enhanced production and sales of safe, recyclable sanitary pads, empowering girls and women – has been launched by WaterAid in Lagos.
Participants at the project launch and inception meeting in Lagos
Period poverty refers to the lack of access to menstrual products, sanitation facilities, and adequate education related to menstruation.
During the project launch and inception meeting in Lagos on Thursday, June 26, 2025, Grace Uwadiale of WaterAid noted that the Danida project’s main focus is on improving access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).
“It specifically aims to empower communities through sustainable solutions, promoting human rights, and addressing issues like period poverty. The initiative also supports green growth, enhances resilience to climate change, and fosters innovation in WASH-related technologies,” she stated.
Uwadiale disclosed that the project seeks to address period poverty in Nigeria by providing safe, recyclable sanitary pads and empowering women and girls while promoting local production, environmental sustainability and a commercially viable business model through improved market access and behavioral change.
According to her, “the product will be produced locally in Nigeria thereby serving as a means of empowering women and creation of jobs through skill development in manufacturing”.
In his remarks, Mahmood Adegbite, Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, commended WaterAid for venturing into such a laudable project that will be of immense benefit to the female gender.
Adegbite, who was represented by Mr. Akinwunmi Babatunde, Deputy Director in the Ministry, noted: “Based on those local productions, it means that it can empower people. And the main aim of this programme is innovating sustainable goods and the green transition to end period poverty in Nigeria and I’m really very keen on that aspect of period poverty.”
On her part, Mrs. Rianat Ajibike Onigbanjo, Permanent Secretary, Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), submitted: “Women with better knowledge of menstrual hygiene and practices are less vulnerable due to reproductive tract infraction and overgrowth, and increasing awareness and knowledge of the health and disability of a woman depends on poor menstrual hygiene practices affecting millions of women and young girls.”
Onigbanjo, who spoke through Mrs. Folashade Adeyanju, added: “The Ministry of Women and Child Parenthood’s regulation has always regarded success in the past menstrual hygiene rule to the distribution of sex-free pads, sanitisers, soaps, menstrual cards, advice to the disabled people, governments and NGOs. This helps to create more awareness to the vulnerable and illiterate women in rural states.
“The Ministry also provides interactive mapping where women and girls are able to learn and discuss issues related to menstrual hygiene management, to participate in a talk on the use of pads instead of other materials that can be harmful to the body system.”
Dr. Omobolaji Gaji, Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, noted that the launch of Danida Project is not coincidental. According to him, “it’s something that is long overdue, and we appreciate WaterAid for taking the will and the heart to go into those projects, and we trust that they will be revived.
“We appreciate the work they have done. We appreciate everyone who has partnered with them. We thank you WaterAid and we hope to do more partnerships with you,” he submitted.
Dignitaries that graced the project launch and inception meeting include Mr. Henry Adenigba, Executive Director, Humanity Family Foundation for Peace and Development (HUFFPED); Prince Adeniran Ogunbanwo, CDC Chairman, Ikorodu North LCDA; Pastor Segun Fayemi, CDC Chairman, Ojodu LCDA; representatives from Ministry of Health, Ministry of Basic Secondary Education as well as Education District 2 and 6 in Lagos State, among others.
Historically, the month of June is an important one for climate action. This is because it is the month when the meeting of the Subsidiary Bodies(SB) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) usually holds. These SBs’ meetings are critical as they address leftover discussions from the previous Conference of Parties (COPs), and shape agenda items for upcoming COPs.
Rep. Kama Nkemkanma
This year’s June however took on additional importance as I had to participate in two other key global events in my role as the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Climate Change and Security.
The first of these was the Parliamentary Roundtable on NDCs, which took place in Berlin on 10 June, on the eve of the Global Conference on NDCs. The event was convened by GLOBE Legislators in collaboration with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, NDC Partnership, E3G, Germany’s International Climate Initiative (IKI). This event presented an opportunity to highlight the important role of Members of Parliament in the Nationally Determined Contributions(NDCs) process of their countries. As I stated clearly there, this role is very critical and must start at the inception phases to the implementation phases.
Upon my return from Berlin, I flew to Marrakech to attend the Marrakesh Parliamentary Green Investment Dialogue convened by Climate Parliament and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO). There, I spoke on the need to leverage legislative momentum to promote community-based Green Energy Zones, particularly in underserved or off-grid areas.
The overarching message from these events was the need for Members of Parliament to continue to exercise their Constitutional responsibility, and leverage oversight functions to engender more climate action in our countries.
Furthermore, these engagements underscored the importance of multilevel action in order to achieve a resounding impact.
I was therefore pleased when I returned to Nigeria to hear that the Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP), a leading NGO in the climate and environmental space in Nigeria, has taken an important first step to organisational accountability by releasing the report of its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the year 2024, while also outlining plans for emissions reductions in the coming years.
This action by SPP is highly commendable and it aligns with my vision as the chairman of the Climate Change and Security Committee at the House of Representatives which has necessitated my engagement with Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government, and the private sector to kickstart the first step of emissions reduction accountability in compliance with the provisions of the Climate Change Act 2021.
It is therefore important to emphasise that the only pathway to aggregated climate action is when individuals, households, communities, organisations, etc, begin to take structured steps to be accountable. The sum of these actions will significantly yield massive impact that will enhance NDCs implementation, and further bolster Nigeria’s journey to sustainable development.
As a committee, we intend to expand our engagements with all organisations and therefore expect to see similar efforts at climate accountability by both the private and public sectors of the Nigerian economy.
SPP has laid down the gauntlet. We expect to see similar actions from other organisations – companies with over 50 employees; MDAs at national and subnational levels; diplomatic bodies; etc, following suit. As part of our Constitutional responsibility, we will follow up and demand reports.
Rep Kama Nkemkanma is the Chair of the Committee on Climate Change and Security, House of Representatives, and Nigeria’s Parliamentary Champion for Climate Change
Undoubtedly, the Agroecology Club Project (ACP), launched by the EcoSteward and Humanitarian Foundation (EHF) in schools, will contribute to meeting the growing demand for actively involving young people in the struggle for climate-resilient and sustainable food systems.
Participants at the Primark International Academy in Abuja for the official launch of the EcoSteward and Humanitarian Foundation’s (EHF) Agroecology Club Project (ACP) in schools
By teaching students environmentally friendly farming techniques like composting, organic pest control, and crop rotation – which not only improve soil fertility and crop yield but also lessen reliance on dangerous chemicals, fostering long-term sustainability and ecosystem health – this programme is also expected to add to the improvement of food production and ecological preservation.
In response to a question about what inspired the project’s conception, Obinna Nweze, the organisation’s programme director, hinted that the desire to bridge this existing gap was what informed their decision to introduce agroecology to students at a young age.
“The lack of practical environmental education in schools further motivated the creation of this initiative, designed to empower students with both knowledge and hands-on skills,” he told a group of participants who had gathered on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at Primark International Academy in Jikwoyi, Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, to witness the groundbreaking ceremony.
According to him, the event’s theme, “Eco-Champions for Agroecology,” emphasises his organisation’s efforts to cultivate a new generation of young leaders who will not only be knowledgeable about ecological farming concepts, but also passionate advocates for food justice and environmental protection.
As Nigeria seeks solutions to the numerous environmental challenges it faces, such as land degradation and biodiversity loss, Nweze explained that the aim of selecting the students as champions is to position them as future change-makers who will lead the charge in building greener communities through informed action and leadership.
These young leaders will carry out regular club activities, including mentorship and training on how to maintain their school gardens. Additionally, they will also monitor and document the progress of the project to measure its impact and inform future recommendations.
“The goal is to expand to more schools and use the lessons learnt to advocate for greater integration of agroecology into educational and national development frameworks,” said the EHF programme director.
Sir Oko Agaji, the principal of Primark International Academy, stated in his introductory remarks that he was delighted that the programme had been introduced to his school due to the fact that it will help address the misunderstanding that agriculture is an outdated practice by educating the students at a young age.
He went on to say that the school is fully aware of agriculture’s benefits to society, which is why they have long had a club to promote its growth.
“Personally, I have a garden at my home, and I understand the benefits I am gaining from it,” he said, particularly how it is supplementing the food that he and his family consume.
He assured that, moving forward, they would continue to collaborate with EHF and her partners to ensure that agriculture receives robust support in both practical fieldwork and classroom environments.
Oji Nwachukwu, a senior secondary three student at the school and one of the 20 recently crowned champions, said the event had an impact on her because of the new things she learnt.
“My takeaway from this programme is to say no to inorganic fertiliser that destroys our ecosystem and human health,” she said, vowing to use her newly acquired knowledge to mobilise and teach other students about some of the sustainable farming methods.
Highlights of the occasion included speeches by representatives of the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa, Ecocykle Development Foundation (EDF), GreenFaith Africa, Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP), Community Action for Food Security, and EnviroNews, who urged the students to preserve the environment while pursuing their need for food production. Furthermore, the school received a handbook on understanding agro-ecological techniques to help guide the students and improve their knowledge of the topic.
While the excitement lingered, one major issue highlighted by stakeholders was the long-term sustainability of this commendable project. Many believe that incorporating new activities such as demonstration gardens for hands-on learning, teacher training to support ongoing efforts in schools, and collaboration with local organisations to provide mentorship will foster a strong sense of student ownership while also providing the tools and resources that the clubs require to thrive beyond the pilot phase.
Pi-CNG Programme Director, Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (Pi-CNG), Mr. Michael Oluwagbemi, has reiterated the Federal Government’s dedication to reducing carbon emissions, tackling urban air pollution, and creating green jobs.
Participants at the Pi-CNG workshop in Lagos, on Thursday
Oluwagbemi gave the assurance in Lagos on Thursday, June 26, during the 2025 Fuel with CNG Diesel Retrofit Workshop, organised by Pi-CNG for stakeholders in the industry.
According to him, these targets are through the adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
“We are not just retrofitting engines, we are reimagining Nigeria’s energy future,” Oluwagbemi declared.
He emphasised the initiative’s role in solving national problems, including reducing inflation and improving the financial wellbeing of ordinary Nigerians.
“It is also the impact on the life of the common Nigerian. More money in your pocket means that you can use money to buy, send your child to school.
“Also, treat a sick sibling in the hospital, invest in your own life, to build a house, to buy cars, right?” the programme director asked.
By introducing a “cheaper, safer, more reliable source of energy that is domestic,” the programme aims to lower energy costs.
It also allows citizens to more disposable income for education, healthcare, housing, and other investments.
Similarly, the guest speaker, Mr. Toba Omibiyi, Technical Director at Large and Grant Ltd., a construction company, affirmed the safety of CNG, countering common concerns.
He attributed public misconceptions to a lack of proper orientation and education, stressing the need to educate the public about CNG’s advantages and debunk myths, such as confusing it with Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
The workshop focused on Nigeria’s transition toward cleaner, more sustainable fuel alternatives.
It brought together high-level government officials, automotive industry leaders, environmental experts, fleet operators, and green tech innovators.
Also, discussions during the workshop included strategies for converting diesel-powered vehicles to run on CNG, which is a cleaner, cost-effective alternative expected to revolutionise Nigeria’s road transport system.
The Group Chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group), Alhaji (Dr.) Umaru Kwairanga, has praised the President/Chief Executive, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, for his substantial contributions to the Nigerian capital market and private sector development.
L -R: Vice President, Oil and Gas, Dangote Industries Ltd, Devakumar Edwin; CEO NGX, Temi Popoola; President / CE, Dangote Industries Ltd, Aliko Dangote; Group Chairman, NGX Group Alhaji (Dr.) Umaru Kwairanga, Managing Director/ CEO of Central Securities Clearing System Plc, (CSCS), Haruna Jalo-Waziri, during the NGX Group’s Visit to Dangote petroleum Refinery and fertiliser plant, Ibeju-Lekki Lagos on Tuesday June 25, 2025
He noted this during a courtesy visit to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals and Dangote Fertiliser Limited by capital market stakeholders.
Kwairanga, who called for the listing of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Dangote Fertiliser on the NGX, stated that it would represent a natural progression in the Dangote Group’s journey towards transparency, market leadership, and inclusive wealth creation.
Noting that the Nigerian capital market takes great pride in Dangote and his contributions to the economy, he commended the impact of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery on the Nigerian economy, stressing that the various initiatives introduced have provided much-needed relief to Nigerians.
Kwairanga recalled Dangote’s tenure as President of the Council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, describing him as a visionary whose leadership shaped the capital market landscape.
“Through the listing of companies such as Dangote Cement Plc, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, and NASCON Allied Industries Plc, the Group has significantly deepened market liquidity, boosted investor confidence, and driven long-term value creation for shareholders,” he stated.
The Chairman emphasised that the visit was more than a tour; it was a reaffirmation of the NGX’s commitment to aligning investment capital with national development goals.
The President/Chief Executive of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, reaffirmed that the Group would soon list the Dangote Fertiliser Limited on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), with the aim of revolutionising the capital market.
He assured shareholders that those investing in Dangote Fertiliser Limited would not need to worry about the value of the local currency, as the company operates within a dollarised business framework.
“So, what are we aiming to do to bring about a major revolution in the capital market? The main challenge is that many investors are hesitant, thinking, ‘If I invest my naira now, by the time I receive dividends in ten years, the naira will have lost value.’ However, we are entering the market with a dollarised business model,” he explained.
Dangote further disclosed that the company is working on expanding its fertiliser plants to boost revenue, with a target dividend payment to shareholders exceeding $3 billion.
“In the next 40 months, our fertiliser business should generate $20 million in revenue per day. We are pushing hard. We expect to reach over $70 billion in revenue and possibly pay dividends of $3–4 billion. Our philosophy is to always think big,” he said.
He added that the Group is also strengthening its cement business by investing in new plants and targeting clinker exports to West African countries, which will boost revenue and provide better dividends for shareholders.
Praising the recent progress of the NGX, Dangote stressed that Nigeria needs companies like Reliance Industries Limited, which once held its Annual General Meetings in a stadium. Such companies, he noted, would stimulate the economy and encourage wealth distribution.
Emphasising that Nigeria cannot attain its $1 trillion economy target without a vibrant stock exchange, Dangote affirmed his continued engagement and support for the NGX, acknowledging its crucial role.
The Vice President of Oil & Gas at Dangote Group, Edwin Devakumar, who led the delegation on a tour of the facilities, described the construction of the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery as a monumental achievement that demanded immense courage, vision, and determination. He noted that the Group acted as its own Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor for the refinery – a feat never before attempted at this scale.
He also stressed that the refinery has ensured Nigeria is no longer reliant on imports to meet its petroleum needs and is now exporting refined products to various continents worldwide.
Also present were the CEO of NGX, Temi Popoola; Managing Director/CEO of Central Securities Clearing System Plc (CSCS), Haruna Jalo-Waziri; CIS President, Oluropo Dada; ASHON Chairman, Sam Onukwe; CEO of NGX Regulation, Olufemi Shobanjo; CEO of Lagos Commodity Exchange, Akeredolu Ali; and other major stakeholders.
