Outgoing President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, says hundreds of million lives were directly impacted during his 10-year stewardship of the regional development bank.
AfDB President, Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina
Adesina disclosed this on Monday, May 26, during a Media Welcome Breakfast that marked the beginning of the 2025 Annual Meetings of the bank in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Specifically, he said the AfDB directly impacted the lives of over 565 million people through its “High 5s” strategy over the past decade.
According to him, the High 5s, introduced in 2015, focussed on five key development priorities: Light Up and Power Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialise Africa, Integrate Africa, and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa.
Adesina said that, with the strategy’s implementation, 128 million people gained access to better healthcare, 121 million benefited from improved transportation, and 104 million were food secured.
“Additionally, 63 million people have access to potable water, 34 million to improved sanitation, and 28 million to electricity.
“These are not just numbers, they are futures. They are hopes realised. Development should be judged not just by statistics but by human impact.
“Today, as we approach the shore of my 10 years as President of the African Development Bank Group, the sails on our ship remained high and strong,” he said.
Adesina said the bank’s work extended to places like Lesotho, Kenya, Egypt and Senegal, where its interventions had transformed access to water, energy and sanitation, and bridged regional divides.
He reaffirmed the High 5s as the bedrock of transformation that had evolved from strategic priorities into a development movement embraced by African leaders and communities.
Adesina will formally conclude his tenure at the end of the ongoing annual meetings, where a new President will be elected.
The first revamped Climate Week of 2025 concluded in Panama City last week, with valuable progress made and real-world solutions shared across vital areas of work.
Participants at the first revamped Climate Week of 2025 in Panama City. Photo credit: Antonio Pérez
“This Forum has served as much more than a venue just for discussion – it has been a springboard for solutions to climate action,” said UN Climate Change Deputy Executive Secretary, Noura Hamladji, in her closing remarks. “Our shared goal was to move from ambition to implementation, to ensure that we leave here knowing real change, and more climate action, is coming.”
The return of newly formatted Climate Weeks in 2025 was driven by the need for climate action to deliver real economy outcomes, faster, and at scale and to ensure implementation is people-centered and rooted in deep collaboration.
The new Climate Week format is also designed to align more closely with the work Parties have mandated under the Paris Agreement. Several mandated events progressed key discussions and issues, with next steps expected in the period ahead and at the upcoming UN June Climate Meetings (SB62) in Bonn.
“This Forum showed that while COPs are essential milestones, the hard work really happens in between them – and these sessions are part of the hard work in between,” said Hamladji. “At the heart of every session was a common thread: the need for collaboration between every part of society – governments, business, investors, city and state leaders, Indigenous Peoples, and civil society came with urgency and purpose.”
“COP30 must kickstart a new decade of implementation and climate action,” said Ana Toni, the National Secretary for Climate Change at Brazil’s Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change and the CEO of COP30. “We owe it to future generations, who will look back and ask why we didn’t do better when we had the chance and knew the seriousness of climate change. The only choice we have is to act urgently and together.”
Juan Carlos Navarro, Panama’s Minister of Environment, called for immediate action.
“I ask and implore you that each of our countries take immediate, concrete actions to stop this devastating crisis, so that Belém may be a celebration of the great global climate consensus and of our unlimited possibilities as a planet and as a species,” said Navarro. “This is what we can achieve when we act together with the common good and our common home in mind.”
At the heart of the Climate Week was the new Implementation Forum – a first-of-its-kind platform to bring together all stakeholders to unlock progress across three critical pillars: finance, technology, and carbon markets.
Finance Lab
The Finance Lab made clear: global climate finance goals will only deliver real change if countries can access and manage funds, so financial innovation and institutional readiness are critical.
One of the key achievements was creating integrated country platforms to unlock finance. Participants called for enhanced country platforms (e.g. Integrated National Financing Frameworks) that align Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) with sectoral investment plans, supported by multi-ministry engagement, private sector integration, and public financial management reforms.
The Finance Lab also advanced locally ledclimate finance ecosystems.Participants emphasized the need to empower local actors (e.g. cooperatives, NGOs, Indigenous Peoples) through technical assistance, direct access modalities, and localised finance matchmaking tools.
“A dominant theme emerging through the week was the urgent need for innovative solutions to unlock climate finance, and drive real-world results and implementation,” said UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell. “It was great to see some outside-the-box solutions put forward, at new ‘solutions Labs’ events focused on finance, tech, and carbon markets, and we’ll continue to evolve our approach.”
Technology Lab
The Technology Lab urged participants to make innovation core business – with a focus on emerging solutions that are not only cutting-edge, but also accessible, equitable, and tailored to local contexts. For example, participants highlighted when AI is used responsibly, with consideration given to risks and challenges including employment impacts, it has a vast potential as a tool to achieve climate goals and accelerate progress.
Actions for transitioning to renewable energy deployment are taking place, but ensuring regulatory frameworks and skills, combined by alignment with the private sector is important.
UN Climate Change launched the AI for Climate Action Award 2025 – a global open-source competition to responsibly harness the power of artificial intelligence in delivering practical climate solutions all around the world.
Article 6/Carbon Markets Lab
The Article 6 and Carbon Markets Lab showcased their game-changing potential as powerful levers for turning ambitious climate targets into reality.
Speakers emphasised the importance of building on past successes – where real money and real emissions reductions were delivered. Now the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM) is fully operational and ready to take delivery and impacts to the next level. But to fully realize its potential, dedicated technical assistance will be essential so that developing countries secure their fair share of resulting finance flows.
“COP30 must kickstart a new decade of implementation and climate action,” said Ana Toni, the National Secretary for Climate Change at Brazil’s Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change and the CEO of COP30. “We owe it to future generations, who will look back and ask why we didn’t do better when we had the chance and knew the seriousness of climate change. The only choice we have is to act urgently and together.”
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
Climate Week also hosted the first NDC Clinic of the year – an in-person,capacity-building event that provided practical support to participating countries through the exchange of knowledge and experiences in key areas critical for NDC implementation.
Through facilitated peer learning and knowledge exchange, the NDC Clinic strengthened inter-ministerial coordination and engagement with key national stakeholders – enhancing collaboration and improving knowledge on how to best access finance at the national level.
The Clinic helped participants gain:
Better understanding of the key policy, financial and technical actions associated with the investment planning process for NDC implementation.
Improved capacity to assess progress, gaps, and opportunities to advance investment planning within the national and regional contexts.
Increased familiarity with the support available from development, multilateral banks, financial institutions, bilateral donors, and other partners to facilitate investment planning for NDC implementation.
Enhanced understanding of the strategies to attract private capital and engage private investors, including incentives, risk mitigation approaches, and blended finance.
Adaptation
An event related to adaptation helped participants better understand updated National Adaptation Plan (NAP) technical guidelines and how to apply them. The event went through the updated NAP technical guidelines in detail, including the NAP table of contents, achieving the Global Goal on Adaptation targets through NAPs, scaled-up implementation and financing, and effective implementation and resource mobilisation. The event also featured pathways for applying and using the updated technical guidelines depending on countries’ progress.
Participation
Climate Week saw strong international participation with over 1,000 participants, from 109 countries – with around two-thirds in person in Panama City, and one-third taking part virtually.
The next Climate Week
The next Climate Week – the second of the two Climate Weeks taking place in 2025 – is expected to be held in Africa, and will focus on unlocking finance for implementation, helping drive investment where it’s most needed, building on the momentum gained in Panama.
Other events
In addition to the events described above, several other mandated events took place during the first Climate Week in Panama:
Fifth global dialogue and investment-focused event under the Sharm el-Sheikh mitigation ambition and implementation work programme
Global DNA Forum on Article 6 implementation
Future of the Climate Action Agenda. COP30 Presidency event
From Call to Mobilisation: Bringing the Global Mutirão Framework to Life. COP30 Presidency Event
Unlocking Opportunities: Enhancing NDC Ambition for a Sustainable and Just Future
From Global Mandates to National Action: Advancing Synergies Between the Climate and Biodiversity Agendas. Special event by Colombia
Third Dialogue under the United Arab Emirates just transition work programme.
The Kaduna State Government and a non-governmental organisation (NGO) are mobilising various stakeholders for a “whole-of-society approach” to address climate change.
Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna State
This involves engaging diverse groups, including government agencies, community organisations, and citizens, to collectively tackle climate challenges.
The Minister of Planning and Budget Commission is to collaborate with the Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Change Engagement (PACE) in the mobilisation.
PACE is a programme funded by the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) that aims to support coalitions to influence the government to resolve climate and governance problems affecting the poorest and most vulnerable.
At a two-day technical session for a whole of society issue-based workshop on Monday, May 26, 2025, in Zaria, Kaduna State, the Commissioner, Kaduna State Planning and Budget Commission (PBC), Mr. Mukhtar Ahmed, said the workshop marked a pivotal moment in the state’s collective efforts to chart a new course for problem-solving.
Ahmed was represented by Bashir Ladan, the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation of the PBC.
He said for Kaduna State, the goal was clearly to harness a multi-stakeholder approach that brings together citizens, state, and non-state actors to engage in meaningful dialogue, identify governance blockages, and address service delivery gaps.
Ahmed said that by combining evidence, advocacy, citizen feedback, capacity building, sector expertise, and resource mobilisation, the workshop aim to co-design strategies and strengthen platforms for impactful reforms.
He noted that the stakeholders expertise and perspectives would be vital towards building and sustaining coalitions that foster inclusive, transparent, and accountable governance.
The commissioner, therefore, urged the stakeholders to seize the opportunity to collaboratively shape solutions that prioritise the needs of communities in Kaduna state and drive sustainable progress.
Ms. Gloria Bulus, a consortium partner for PACE, explained that the programme focuses 30 per cent on climate change and 70 per cent on governance, with a goal to identify issues peculiar to Kaduna State that relate to the areas.
Bulus, who doubles as the Executive Director of Bridge That Gap Initiative, said that the PACE programme aims to strengthen climate governance and build resilience around mitigation and adaptation.
She added that It emphasises the need for a strong governance structure to ensure policy direction, coordination of interventions, budget financing, and accountability for public investments.
“The programme builds on previous initiatives in Kaduna, such as PERL, and SPARC, to further strengthen governance systems around policy and strategy, public financial management, public service management, and monitoring and evaluation,”she said.
By adopting a whole-of-society approach, Bulus believed that PACE’s fight against climate change would be more focused and structured.
She noted that the programme seeks to translate reforms into results, requiring the involvement of all stakeholders, including civil society, media, private sector, and government.
“The workshop is expected to identify burning issues affecting communities and provide solutions to environmental and governance challenges. With the implementation of direct programmes and projects, communities are expected to benefit from improved governance and climate change mitigation efforts.
“The programme’s success will be measured by its ability to bring about tangible results and improve the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable in Kaduna State,” she said.
Also, a stakeholder, Mr. Yusuf Goje of Civic Impact for Sustainable Development, emphasised that PACE’s whole-of-society approach looks at people, institutions, resources, and performance to fight climate change.
Goje also called for strong governance structure is essential to coordinate various interventions, ensure policy direction, and account for public investments in climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Another stakeholder, Mr. Mubarak Abdulganiy, the Civil Society Co-chair of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) in Kaduna State, said the PACE programme aligned seamlessly with the OGP’s vision for inclusive, transparent, and accountable governance, particularly in the face of mounting climate change challenges.
By bridging the gap between government and citizens, Abdulganiy said that the “whole of society” approach enhances the legitimacy and effectiveness of governance, particularly in addressing climate-induced vulnerabilities that affect most at-risk communities.
He, therefore, said Alas civil society, they see the engagement as an opportunity to deepen accountability mechanisms, improve evidence-based advocacy, and ensure that no group is left behind in the state’s resilience planning.
The workshop brought together different groups of stakeholders, including civil society organisations, private sector, community leaders and government representatives, Persons with Disabilities, women and youth groups to provide holistic solutions to the issues.
The National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) has procured five million date palm seedlings for distribution across 11 frontline northern states to combat desertification and promote economic development in the region.
Director-General of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), Alhaji Saleh Abubakar
Director-General of the Agency, Saleh Abubakar, made the disclosure on Monday, May 26, 2025, during a courtesy visit to some traditional rulers in Yobe as part of the agency’s environmental sensitisation efforts.
Abubakar said the initiative was part of the agency’s mandate to fight land degradation and the impact of climate change.
The gesture, according to him, would significantly boost the nation’s economy and provide long-term environmental benefits.
According to him, the agency procured five million date seedlings for onward distribution in 11 frontline northern states to improve the economic activities of the region.
“Each date tree can produce fruits worth about N1 million annually. If a person cultivates 20 trees, he can potentially earn up to N20 million yearly.
“The tree produces twice a year and reaches maturity within four years.
“We are projecting that this initiative could inject over N300 billion into the economy when fully implemented,” he added.
Abubakar emphasised the need for collective action towards restoring the degraded environment and urged communities to support tree planting and nurturing.
“We are here to mobilise people to understand the importance of planting and nurturing trees to restore balance in the environment and make it more habitable for both man and animal.
“We also intend to plant 350,000 assorted tree species in Yobe this planting season, which begins in July,” he said.
He noted that the effects of climate change were now being felt across the globe, citing a personal experience of extreme morning temperatures.
“This morning, the temperature in my room was 40 degrees Celsius. This is unprecedented and clearly shows how climate change is affecting us.
“We must act now. I urge everyone to plant at least one tree to help safeguard our environment,” the DG said.
In his remarks, the Emir of Damaturu, Alhaji Shehu El-Kanemi, described the project as timely and crucial to addressing desertification in the region.
“The project came at the right time, considering the environmental challenges facing the North, especially Yobe State.
“It is a welcome development and a significant step toward sustainable development,” the Emir said.
He assured the agency of full support from the traditional institution, saying, “We will be up and doing to support this project and ensure it succeeds.”
Also speaking, the Emir of Fune, Dr Idris Ibn-Usman, said his domain was among the worst affected by erosion and desert encroachment, which had displaced many households.
“As an environmentalist by profession, I know that many of these issues are man-made due to indiscriminate tree felling without replacement,” he said.
He welcomed the initiative and cited the neem tree, introduced by the late Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello, as a success story of afforestation.
Similarly, the Emir of Potiskum, Alhaji Umar Bubaram, expressed concern over the delayed rainfall in the current farming season.
“By this time in previous years, farmers had already started planting.
“But we are approaching the end of May and the rains are yet to come. This shows the serious impact of climate change,” he said.
He lauded the date tree planting initiative as a strategic move that would boost both food security and the economic fortunes of the region.
The Great Green Wall initiative is a pan-African effort aimed at restoring Africa’s degraded landscapes and combating desertification across the Sahel region.
The Lagos State Government has announced the successful relocation of the Okobaba Plank Market at Ebute Meta to a newly-developed site at Timberville at Agbowa.
Office of Urban Development giving account of stewardship at the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing
It also announced the provision of 260 units of two-bedroom flats for the traders at Agbowa.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on e-GIS and Urban Development, Dr Olajide Babatunde, said this at the ongoing Lagos State 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing at Alausa, Ikeja.
The briefing is to commemorate Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second year of second term in office.
“We have not only relocated the traders from Okobaba to Timberville in Agbowa, but we have also ensured their comfort by providing 260 units of two-bedroom flats.
“We are using this briefing to highlight key achievements in urban development as part of the governor’s commitment to inclusive growth,” he said.
Babatunde said that 21 markets, including Computer Village, Abule Egba, Alabama Transnational Market, Pelewura, Katangowa and Jankara Gorodome, were undergoing various stages of relocation, revitalisation and redevelopment under the supervision of the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA).
“We are repositioning these markets to be safer, more accessible, and better organised through LASURA’s comprehensive market redevelopment plan,” he said.
According to him, LASURA aims to achieve a 50 per cent annual reduction in slums and squatter settlements across the state.
“Our target is to reduce slum areas by half every year through infrastructure renewal and proper urban planning,” Babatunde said.
Also, he said that 140 consultants were certified as Lagos State Accreditors in the past one year under the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).
He said that the professionals were responsible for screening construction drawings, conducting stage inspections, and monitoring non-compliant structures to curb building collapses.
“We now have 140 certified accreditors on ground to ensure only safe and compliant structures are approved in Lagos,” Babatunde said.
He also disclosed that LASBCA detected 8,663 building infractions in the past one year.
“Additionally, 1,136 construction commencement authorisations were issued to building owners and developers.
“Through our enforcement efforts, we discovered over 8,000 infractions, while ensuring that new developments meet required standards,” he added.
Babatunde said that LASURA was planning regeneration of the Ipodo slum settlement using inclusive renewal methods.
He added that the agency was working to establish a standard and enduring process for regeneration efforts.
“We are engaging with communities such as Ipodo to design human-centred regeneration plans that respect the people and the environment,” he said.
Babatunde announced a 30 per cent rebate for individuals intending to construct Green Eco-houses in the state as part of efforts to promote sustainable building practices.
Two of the UK’s leading conservation organisations, The Wildlife Trusts and the RSPB, have issued a sharp statement to the Labour government, accusing it of backtracking on its environmental promises.
Craig Bennett, Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts
Earlier this year, the government outlined its commitment to the implementation of UN COP15 biodiversity framework by publishing its National Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan (NBSAP), showing how it intends to deliver 30by30 – protecting 30% of the UK’s land and sea by 2030.
The latest criticism from charities centres on Part 3 of the recent Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which they say would allow developers to damage protected natural sites in exchange for contributing to a central nature fund, a move they describe as a “licence to destroy.”
The organisations argue the proposed legislation weakens longstanding safeguards for nature, particularly those designed to protect irreplaceable habitats like ancient woodlands, chalk streams, and important wildlife sites such as the Peak District Moors. They claim that, despite repeated warnings from experts and conservationists, ministers have refused to strengthen the bill or consult meaningfully on its impacts.
New research released alongside their joint statement undermines claims that environmental protections are stalling development. An analysis of over 17,000 planning appeals in 2024 found that wildlife concerns, often blamed by sensationalist media and ministers for delays, played a role in less than 3% of cases. The evidence dismantles the government’s narrative that species like bats and great crested newts are a barrier to growth.
The backlash has intensified following the rejection of proposed amendments by NGOs and MPs to better protect vulnerable habitats. The Wildlife Trusts have joined forces with the RSPB to call for the Nature Recovery part 3 of the Bill to be removed.
In a strongly worded response, Craig Bennett, Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts, accused Labour of breaking its election pledge to restore nature.
“The so-called Nature Recovery part of the Bill is a Trojan horse – it’s a misnomer because, in reality, it is a licence to destroy. It replaces vital nature protections with a weaker substitute, and has been described by the Government’s own nature watchdog as ‘environmentally regressive’ because it puts irreplaceable habitats and threatened species at risk,” Bennett said.
Beccy Speight, RSPB Chief Executive, said:“Despite engaging in good faith with the UK Government for many months, it’s now clear that the Bill in its current form will rip the heart out of environmental protections and risks sending nature further into freefall.”
On the 2025 World Football Day, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has announced William Troost-Ekong, captain of Nigeria’s national football team and professional player for the Saudi Pro League Al-Kholood FC, as the latest Sport4Land Champion. He joins a growing movement of high-profile athletes committed to using the power of sport to raise awareness and take action against desertification, land degradation and drought.
William Troost-Ekong
Troost-Ekong becomes the fifth Sport4Land Champion, joining Moroccan judo champion Asmaa Niang, Togo’s Olympic hurdle jumper Naomi Akakpo, Dutch Paralympian and wheelchair basketball champion Jitske Visser, and Ivorian national football team captain Franck Kessié – a diverse group of sports leaders advocating for healthy land that sustains us all. Together, they form a united front for land restoration, climate resilience and sustainable development.
As a Sport4Land Champion, Troost-Ekong will use his influence to promote land restoration initiatives across Africa and around the world. Through community outreach, youth engagement and high-visibility initiatives, he aims to inspire urgent action to restore degraded land and protect the livelihoods of millions who depend on it.
“Every second, the world loses the equivalent of four football fields of healthy land,” said Troost-Ekong.
I want to use my platform to build awareness of the impact desertification is having in Africa – and the solutions to reverse it. I’m especially motivated to strengthen collaboration between Saudi Arabia and Africa, including my home country Nigeria. My goal is to empower communities with the tools and knowledge they need to restore their land and secure a better future. It’s time for a new generation of leaders to step forward and build a legacy of change.”
Through his Troost-Ekong Foundation, established in 2024, he will champion land restoration and environmental awareness by supporting grassroots initiatives, education and local development projects. His work will directly support the Great Green Wall, a flagship Africa-led initiative aiming to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land, sequester 250 million tonnes of carbon and create 10 million green jobs by 2030.
“William Troost-Ekong embodies the spirit of Sport4Land – determined, visionary and rooted in his community,” said Ibrahim Thiaw, UNCCD Executive Secretary.
His leadership on and off the pitch will help shine a light on the urgent need for land restoration – not only in Africa, but around the world. We are proud to welcome him to our team of Sport4Land Champions.
By connecting the universal language of football with the global challenge of land degradation, Sport4Land turns passion into action – scoring goals not only on the pitch, but for the future of our land and our communities,” Thiaw added.
In his first engagement as Sport4LandChampion, Troost-Ekong will host a charity football match in Lagos on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in conjunction with this year’s Desertification and Drought Day with the theme of “Restore the Land. Unlock the Opportunities.”.
The event will bring together athletes, fans and community members in a celebration of the power of sport to unite and drive meaningful change for the land.
The Nasarawa State Government says it will sustain efforts to utilising lithium resources in the state towards establishing the first electric vehicles factory in Nigeria.
Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Gov. Abdullahi Sule stated this at an event organised by the Abdullahi Sule Gidan-Gidan Support Group to commemorate his six years in office.
The event held on Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Lafia, the state capital city.
The state’s lithium reserves have garnered significant attention, particularly with the recent inauguration of a lithium processing factory in the state.
The factory was built by Avatar New Energy Materials Company Limited.
Sule said that the development aligns with the Federal Government’s efforts to promote clean energy and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
He added that his government would ensure that all mineral resources, including lithium produced in the state were processed there before exported or transported to other states and countries.
The governor added that, in spite of government’s efforts, it was only the first stage of lithium processing that is currently taking place in the state.
“We will continue to engage investors and strategic partners to ensure that the second stage, which is the production of battery and assembling of vehicles in the state.
“My administration’s desire is to achieve this milestone,” Sule said.
Sule, who feared that his administration may not complete the project, assured that his predecessor would bring it to fruition.
Sule thanked President Bola Tinubu for his impressive economic reforms, promised to key into the president’s reforms for the overall development of the state.
The governor also promised to use the remaining two years of his administration to better the lots of the citizens.
Earlier, Hajiya Hussaina Sule and Chairperson of the support group, said that the event was to celebrate the achievements of the governor in the last six years.
Sule, who is the governor’s daughter, commended him for executing a lot of legacy projects across the state.
She listed some of the critical projects to include, flyovers and underpasses in Lafia and Akwanga, and the State Secretariat complex in Lafia.
She added that the governor had also constructed over 600 kilometers of urban and rural roads, among others.
The Sustainable Education and Livelihoods Foundation (SELF) has commended the Women Environmental Programme (WEP) for its work in empowering communities and promoting human rights through environmental justice.
Participants in Yola, the capital of Adamawa State, at the bootcamp organised by the Women Environmental Programme (WEP)
In an interview during the just-concluded bootcamp hosted by WEP on April 29 and 30, 2025, in Yola, the capital of Adamawa State, Hyellagiziya Fakuta, founder and CEO of SELF, expressed her gratitude for the experience, describing it as both enlightening and deeply impactful.
“Not only for me personally, but for the strategic direction and growth of our organisation,” the SELF chief added.
The bootcamp, she went on to explain, provided a platform for participants to explore significant issues at the intersection of environmental protection, human rights, and sustainable development.
Elaborating further, Fakuta hinted that the exercise was not just informative — it was practical and transformative and has strengthened SELF’s vision and strategy and deepened its commitment to bridging the gap between grassroots realities and national policy.
According to her, the issues covered during the event expanded her knowledge of how environmental degradation is inextricably tied to basic human rights, particularly in marginalised communities. It also reaffirmed how vital it is to incorporate environmental justice into SELF’s livelihood and education initiatives.
She observed that the topic of gender equity as a pathway for sustainable development highlighted the critical role of women in achieving environmental sustainability, emphasising that the practical strategies shared during this session will assist her organisation in designing more inclusive and gender-responsive programmes that will uplift women and promote equity.
Civil society organisations (CSOs) play a critical role in advancing gender parity in environmental governance. By gathering and evaluating data, promoting culturally aware human rights, keeping an eye on the effects of policies, and organising communities, they operate as change agents.
In light of this, the SELF boss asserts that the discussion of CSOs’ role in promoting gender equality in environmental governance has “equipped us with new tools and motivation to be a stronger voice for the people we serve.”
As a result, on behalf of her establishment, she expresses profound gratitude to WEP for conducting the impacting training in her state.
“Your commitment to empowering organisations like ours is helping to build a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future for all,” Fakuta stated.
AXIAN Energy held the official foundation stone laying ceremony for the NEA Kolda solar power plant on Thursday, May 22, 2025, marking the start of construction. The site is located in southern Senegal at Tankanto Escale, in the Kolda region, approximately 700 km from Dakar.
Ground-breaking ceremony of the NEA Kolda solar power plant in Senegal
The ceremony took place in the presence of the authorities of the Kolda region, alongside the local communities, the first beneficiaries of this high-impact project.
A strategic lever for the energy transition in Senegal
At a time when Senegal has set itself the goal of increasing the share of renewable energy in its electricity mix to 40% by 2030, NEA Kolda is said to be a major pillar of this ambition. With an installed capacity of 60 MW, complemented by a battery energy storage system (BESS) with a capacity of 72 MWh, the project is establishing itself as a regional benchmark in energy innovation.
The plant will help secure the electricity supply of more than 235,000 people while strengthening the resilience of the national grid in the face of consumption peaks. This project reflects the authorities’ commitment to cleaner, more accessible, and more affordable energy.
An alliance of strategic actors
The success of the NEA Kolda project is based on close collaboration between key partners in the energy sector and leading investors. In October 2024, the Emerging Africa & Asia Infrastructure Fund (EAAIF), the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank (FMO), and Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (DEG) granted €84 million in financing to support the implementation of this strategic infrastructure. The total investment cost now stands at nearly €105 million.
The construction of all the energy production and storage infrastructure for the NEA Kolda project has been entrusted to the Voltalia–Entech consortium, two leading players in the field of renewable energy.
This collective mobilisation is part of a broader continental dynamic of energy transition aimed at reducing dependence on fossil fuels and increasing the share of renewable energies on the African continent.
Benjamin Memmi, CEO of AXIAN Energy, said: ” I am particularly proud and happy today to lay this first stone alongside all our partners who have demonstrated constant support in the implementation of this emblematic project. Driven by a sustainable vision and focused on the real needs of the regions, this project embodies a new generation of energy infrastructure in West Africa, combining inclusion, innovation, and territorial impact. This step marks the beginning of a structuring project that will contribute sustainably to Senegal’s energy autonomy.”
A driver of economic and social transformation
True to its commitment to delivering high-impact projects for local communities, AXIAN Energy places human and economic development at the heart of its initiatives. The NEA Kolda project is a concrete example of this. Beyond energy production, this infrastructure acts as a true driver of social and economic transformation for the Casamance region.
The project also includes an ambitious CSR action plan structured around five axes: Access to health, Social and educational success, Economic development, The promotion of sport and culture, Climate change management.
AXIAN Energy has reportedly invested nearly 2 billion FCFA in a series of high-impact social initiatives, designed to support the most vulnerable populations towards sustainable autonomy:
Strengthening economic autonomy
Financial management training was organised to enable beneficiaries, particularly women and young people, to better manage their income, structure their activities and develop a long-term entrepreneurial culture.
Support for sustainable agricultural practices
To strengthen food security and communities’ productive capacity, training sessions on sustainable farming techniques were organised, along with seed distribution. These actions enabled farmers to adopt better agricultural practices, increase their yields, and better manage natural resources, while promoting their economic autonomy.
Support for the development of the livestock sector
To support the development of livestock farming, several infrastructures and support measures have been put in place: construction of a vaccination park, distribution of veterinary equipment, training of breeders, creation of a production track to open up livestock areas, as well as the installation of watering troughs. These interventions have contributed to improving animal health, facilitating access to veterinary services, and strengthening the resilience of breeders in the face of climatic hazards.
Upcoming flagship community projects include the construction of a maternity centre, which will provide safe access to quality care for women and newborns, as well as the establishment of sports infrastructure designed to promote the positive values of sport: self-improvement, team spirit and solidarity.
Beyond its energy impact, the NEA Kolda project will also play a key role in strengthening local employability. Nearly 400 talented individuals from the region will be mobilized to participate in the construction of the plant, and then in its operational management once it is commissioned, thus contributing to sustainable and inclusive economic development.
Maïramou Haman Adji, Impact & Sustainability Manager at AXIAN Energy, said: “At AXIAN Energy, we are convinced that energy is an accelerator of territorial transformation. This is why the launch of the NEA Kolda power plant is accompanied by an ambitious CSR program, focused on sustainable food and economic autonomy, so that this infrastructure directly benefits local communities. Our mission is to make each project a source of human progress, serving an inclusive energy transition deeply rooted in African territories.”
