The Kano State Government, through the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project, has unveiled plans to plant three million trees to address climate change and environmental degradation in the state.
Dr Dahiru Hashim, coordinator, ACReSAL project
Speaking during a news conference in Kano on Friday, June 28, 2024, Dr Dahiru Hashim, coordinator, ACReSAL project, emphasised the critical need to address climate change and environmental degradation in the region.
The project coordinator explained that the programme would beautify the state and secure its environment.
He said the initiative, tagged “Three Million Trees Planting (3MTP)”, driven by ACReSAL projects, aimed to address climate change, environmental degradation, and deforestation in the region.
“Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf, a strong advocate for environmental sustainability, emphasised the vital role of trees in maintaining ecological balance.
“The programme will involve avenue planting, afforestation projects, and shelter belt establishment, engaging community organisations, NGOs, and civil society groups. Training sessions will ensure effective tree planting and maintenance,” he said.
According to him, legislative measures are also being developed to prevent indiscriminate tree felling and enforce penalties for violations, ensuring the long-term survival of the newly planted trees.
“Early efforts under the initiative include the planting of 5,000 seedlings along key roads such as State Road, Ahmadu Bello Way, and BUK Road.
“The programme also plans to plant an additional two million trees through afforestation projects and the establishment of new shelterbelts to combat desertification and promote food security,” Hashim added.
He said a safe environment was key to the continued survival of humanity, adding that the need to preserve the environment was non-negotiable.
The project coordinator called on residents to participate in this historic initiative, contributing to a greener, more resilient state.
A total of 2,659 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) across Nigeria have been pre-qualified for the final phase of the NNPC Foundation Business Pitching Exercise.
Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe
Billed to hold from July 2 to 10, 2024, the exercise is an integral part of the NNPC Foundation’s Financial Literacy Programme for Nigerian youths that witnessed the engagement of over 284,000 corps members, who underwent rigorous training and assessments.
Speaking on the exercise, the Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe, said the selection criteria would focus on the feasibility and sustainability of the business idea, market relevance, competitive edge and innovation, scalability, potential impact on the community and the entrepreneurial spirit of the corps members.
“We have identified these 2,659 individuals who are ready to present their business ideas to a distinguished panel of assessors,” Arukwe stated.
Arukwe informed that the Financial Literacy Programme is aligned with the NNPC Foundation’s mission of equipping young Nigerian graduates with necessary skills for personal and professional development.
“By educating corps members on financial management and entrepreneurship, the programme aims to empower them to become economically self-sufficient and to contribute positively to society,” she added.
During the pitching exercise, projects that standout will receive startup packs, business advisory services, and opportunities to scale their ventures.
In a related development, the management of NNPC Foundation has facilitated a significant 50% reduction in the registration fee for corps members’ businesses with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
The NNPC Foundation is the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of NNPC Limited. Its initiatives focus on enhancing Nigeria’s socio-economic development through targeted interventions in education, health, the environment, access to energy and youth empowerment to foster economic empowerment, promote entrepreneurship, and support sustainable development across the nation.
The Economic Community of African States (ECOWAS) has said that collaborative efforts of member states towards an integrated water resource management (IWRM) is crucial to sustainable regional socio-economic development.
Participants at the event on Friday in Abuja
ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation, Sediko Douka, made this known at the 5th Ordinary Session of the Ministerial Monitoring Committee (MMC) of the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in West Africa on Friday in Abuja.
Douka, noted that water-related problems were detrimental to the economic and social development of the West African countries, said that there was urgent need to move to new forms of water management.
This, he said, was already contained in the recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Sustainable Development (UNCED) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 1992.
The Commissioner said that, since 1998, ECOWAS member states had been fully committed to the IWRM process, which culminated in the adoption of a regional action plan in 2000 and a permanent coordination and monitoring framework (PCMF).
“This commitment to sub-regional cooperation stems from a shared political vision by all member states, as expressed in the “Ouagadougou Declaration” of 1998.
“These broad lines have successfully guided our efforts in integrated water resources management for almost three decades now,” he said.
Douka explained that the Abuja event aimed to revitalise the PCMF of IWRM and assess the implementation status of the West Africa Water Resources Policy (WAWRP) adopted in December 2008 by ECOWAS leaders.
“The WAWRP represents a unique experience in the development of a common sectoral policy for West African regional integration organisations (ECOWAS-WAEMU-CILSS).
“The meeting agenda will address issues of crucial importance for the promotion of IWRM and sustainable development in West Africa.
He described ECOWAS’ Regional Initiative for the Development, Resilience, and Valorisation of Water Resources (DREVE), as an ambitious structuring and innovative programme that is supported by the World Bank and other West African integration organisations.
Douka expressed confidence that its implementation would positively change the profile of the ECOWAS bloc in terms of sustainable development.
Also speaking, Nigeria’s Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, said that West Africa’s abundant water resources were the potential cornerstone for development.
He said that the water resources would impact positively on health, education, tourism, food security and energy, if properly harnessed and coordinated.
The minister said that by working together, ECOWAS member states could address challenges like climate change, poverty, unemployment and inequality.
With just six years remaining, current progress falls far short of what is required to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Without massive investment and scaled up action, the achievement of the SDGs – the blueprint for a more resilient and prosperous world and the roadmap out of current global crises – will remain elusive, warns The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2024, launched on Friday, June 28, 2024.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
A world in great upheaval
The report reveals that only 17 per cent of the SDG targets are currently on track, with nearly half showing minimal or moderate progress, and over one-third stalled or regressing. The lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, escalating conflicts, geopolitical tensions and growing climate chaos have severely hindered progress.
According to the report, an additional 23 million people were pushed into extreme poverty and over 100 million more were suffering from hunger in 2022 compared to 2019. The number of civilian deaths in armed conflict skyrocketed in 2023. That year was also the warmest on record, with global temperatures nearing the critical 1.5°C threshold.
A moment of choice and consequence
“This report highlights the urgent need for stronger and more effective international cooperation to maximise progress starting now,” said UN Secretary-General, António Guterres. “With more than six years left, we must not let up on our 2030 promise to end poverty, protect the planet and leave no one behind.”
Urgent priorities:
Financing development: The SDG investment gap in developing countries now stands at $4 trillion per year. Developing countries require more financial resources and fiscal space. Reforming the global financial architecture is crucial to unlocking the volume of financing required to spur sustainable development.
Peace and security: The number of forcibly displaced people has reached an unprecedented level, nearly 120 million by May 2024. Civilian casualties spiked by 72 per cent between 2022 and 2023 amid escalating violence, highlighting the urgent need for peace. Resolving ongoing conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy is essential.
Implementation surge: Massive investment and effective partnerships are needed to drive critical transitions in food, energy, social protection, digital connectivity and more.
Success stories and opportunities for action
The report spotlights examples of success and resilience that can be built upon through decisive action.
The remarkable recent strides in deploying renewable energy, for example, highlight a clear pathway to a just energy transition. Girls in most regions have achieved parity and even pulled ahead of boys in completing schooling at all levels. Increasing internet access by about 70 per cent in just eight years also illustrates how rapid transformative change is possible. Similarly, decades of progress against HIV/AIDS provide a template for overcoming other pandemics through global solidarity and funding for scientific breakthroughs.
“Time and again, humanity has demonstrated that when we work together and apply our collective mind, we can forge solutions to seemingly intractable problems,” said Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs.
Key moments for the SDGs
The Summit of the Future, taking place from September 22 to 23, 2024, at UN Headquarters in New York, will be pivotal to getting the world back on track to achieving the SDGs. Deliberations at the Summit will include addressing the debt crisis that is holding so many developing countries back and the urgent need for reform of the international financial architecture.
According to the report, both the Financing for Development Conference and the World Summit for Social Development in 2025 will be key moments to drive SDG momentum.
But as Mr. Li stressed: “The time for words has passed – the political declarations must urgently translate into actions. We must act now, and act boldly.”
Key findings:
For the first time this century, per-capita GDP growth in half of the world’s most vulnerable nations is slower than that of advanced economies.
Nearly 60 per cent of countries faced moderately to abnormally high food prices in 2022.
Based on data collected in 2022 in 120 countries, 55 per cent of the countries lacked non-discrimination laws that prohibit direct and indirect discrimination against women.
Increased access to treatment has averted 20.8 million AIDS-related deaths in the past three decades.
Progress on education remains of grave concern, with only 58 per cent of students worldwide achieving minimum proficiency in reading by the end of primary school.
Global unemployment hit a historic low of 5 per cent in 2023, yet persistent roadblocks remain in achieving decent work.
Global capacity to generate electricity from renewable energy has begun expanding at an unprecedented rate, growing at 8.1 per cent annually for the past five years.
Mobile broadband (3G or higher) is accessible to 95 per cent of the world’s population, up from 78 per cent in 2015.
Record high ocean temperatures have triggered a fourth global coral bleaching event.
External debt stock levels have remained unprecedentedly high in developing countries. About 60 per cent of low-income countries are at high risk of debt distress or already experiencing it.
In one of the statues along the coast of the city of Santos, in São Paulo, we see Father José Anchieta portrayed in a grandiose manner and an indigenous man crouching at his feet. It is estimated that there were between 600 and 1,000 different ethnic groups when the Portuguese arrived in Brazil, with the current census accounting for 270 ethnic groups.
Surge Africa’s partnership with Instituto Procomum puts things into perspective
The statue demonstrates that the most effective way to make a way of life dominant is to exterminate, repress, or rape other forms of life. When we talk about worldview, this is what we are talking about.
There were many worldviews that inhabited the world before the process of colonisation of the majority of the world by a European elite. The fact that one worldview has become hegemonic is also the reason we have gotten to where we are. The climate crisis is above all a crisis of a way of thinking and acting. It is the result of assumptions that shape our choices as a society
A view that nature is inanimate and at our disposal. And yet, the discussion about climate change often stops at technocracy. How can we then expand our understanding of ways of life, since the one we live is just a possibility?
The same countries that were colonised are also those that emit the least carbon dioxide, the main component of global warming. Countries outside Europe that had natural resources became cursed. As writer Amitav Ghosh tells it, the island of Bantam, where nutmeg was born, went from being a gift of nature to a colonial curse and the reason for the murder of thousands of people and the ruin of a territory, a people, a place, a language, a way of being.
Last year, during a call with industry colleagues, there was a round table on Pan-Africanism and the principles that should or should not underpin this concept. Many contributed, but we had difficulty agreeing that this versatile and diverse concept should be restricted only to the borders of Africa.
We believe that Pan-Africanism, if applied well, can build bridges and disrupt social and cultural systems in a way that amplifies the voices, impact and identity of Africans both within and beyond the continent. To achieve this, we must reach out to the peoples and cultures with whom we share intrinsic similarities in terms of social norms, political and historical struggles, and aspirations for a better world.
For this reason, Surge Africa’s partnership with Instituto Procomum puts things into perspective. It shows that we have moved forward and achieved a goal. This unprecedented action of simply bringing together allies from Nigeria and Brazil represents two continents coming together with diversity in culture, history, social structure, religions and endless possibilities of what can be achieved through strategic partnerships and collaboration.
For us at Surge Africa and the Procomum Institute, the goal is to shape a global majority movement together with our allies, where grassroots voices and activists across the global south can access opportunities, reinvent concepts, and create new ideas around social structures, and inclusive governance that integrates sustainable and inclusive development. At the heart of this are cultural organisations that shape narratives and amplify grassroots struggles through cultural and knowledge exchange, campaigns, deliberate and strategic communication, ensuring that our vision for change is well illustrated to define the future we want.
The event “Climate Narratives Lab: The Global South at the Centre of Solutions for Good Living” is a call to expand understanding of the problem. We believe that solidarity and cooperation between peoples, territories and communities, and the meeting of knowledge that this generates, is what will take us further. Researchers with public managers, community leaders, localised experiences that can be disseminated.
We can no longer just think globally and act locally, we need to think and act globally and locally. Thinking about solutions for us is above all thinking about forms of organisation, other institutionalities where non-hegemonic knowledge plays a preponderant role and where power is effectively distributed. Once the rules are clear, then we can talk about policies, as we will have shared information, resources and decisions.
By Nasreen Al-Amin (Founder and Director of Surge Africa) and Georgia Nicolau (General Director of the Procomum Institute)
The International Climate Change Development Initiative (ICCDI) and the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) have pledged their support to various state governments in championing a just transition in the country.
Participants at the ICCDI workshop on just transition in Osogbo, Osun State
This commitment was the central theme of a recent daylong workshop on empowering communities through inclusive and just transitions, which took place in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State.
To guarantee a just and equitable distribution of resources and opportunities, the government of Osun State has reportedly been seeking ways to transform its economy.
The term “just transition” refers to transitioning from an economy that is dependent on fossil fuels to one that is sustainable and employs renewable energy sources, all while assuring the protection of workers’ rights and the participation of communities that have been excluded.
The ICCDI brings the conversation to the state to ensure its inclusion in the transition to a low-carbon and environmentally sustainable economy.
“There has been a significant amount of discourse on the transition in Nigeria, and as an organisation, we are committed to extending this conversation to communities. This is why we are in the state, to develop a roadmap for them on just transition. Our goal is to bring a community-based approach to the issue of climate change and transition,” Mr. Olumide Idowu, Executive Director of ICCDI Africa, said, as he emphasised the workshop’s role in bringing the conversation about just transition to communities.
With the support of ICCDI, the government of Osun State will be able to implement projects that harness renewable energy, adopt environmentally responsible agricultural practices, foster the growth of green industries, and create employment opportunities aligned with social justice and environmental sustainability.
This collaboration, said ICCDI, promises a brighter, more sustainable future for the people of Osun State.
“Just transition should advance climate actions and ensure decent work and economic growth,” Jummai, a representative of the NCCC, said on efforts being made to involve every state in the issue of climate change.
“Mr. Governor’s goal is for the state to soon be the first and leading subnational entity in the design and implementation of a climate action plan. The ultimate focus is to emerge as the most climate-adapted and resilient state within the African subnational space. The state government says it is open to partnerships to address the challenges of climate change,” said Mr Rasheed, the Govenor’s Spokesperson and Chairman, Climate Council, Osun State.
“The benefits of just transition. The things that we’ve been able to hear is to understand the benefits of just transition, ensuring that we move from the current practices as far as energy is concerned and then advance to the next level as far as energy is concerned,” disclosed Tolulope, one of the participants.
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung in Nigeria supported the workshop in partnership with the Coalition for Socioecological Transformation (COSET).
By Rukayat Odebiyi, Peoples Operations, ICCDI Africa
Governments, scientific experts and stakeholders gathered over four days in an international meeting that ended on Thursday, June 27, 2024, to discuss pressing conservation issues for marine turtles in the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia region.
Sea turtle
The 9th Meeting of the Signatory States to the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Marine Turtles and their Habitats of the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia (IOSEA Marine Turtles MOU) agreed on a number of conservation actions. These include the adoption of a Single Species Action Plan for the critically endangered hawksbill turtle, recommendations on beach management and hatchery practices, as well as the endorsement of guidance on identifying critical habitats for turtles. On the closing day of the meeting, the State of Kuwait – hosting five of the seven marine turtle species – became 36th Signatory State by signing the agreement.
The MOU is one of several specialised agreements under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS).
“The need for increased efforts to conserve migratory species of wild animals has never been greater. I am pleased that this meeting agreed on a number of key commitments for the conservation of marine turtles, underscoring the importance of international cooperation to achieve shared objectives,” said Amy Fraenkel, the CMS Executive Secretary.
Marine turtles are migratory species which have thrived for millions of years and the IOSEA region is home to six out of seven species. But they are now at risk due to human activities. Direct threats such as bycatch, egg collection, hunting for meat or shells and destruction of nesting habitat are compounded by indirect threats like plastic ingestion, entanglement in marine debris, and light pollution at nesting beaches.
One major topic at the meeting was on how to address the adverse impacts of climate change on marine turtles. According to the recent State of the World’s Migratory Species report, climate change is predicted to pose a threat to species with temperature-dependent sex determination, such as marine turtles.
A study of the northern Great Barrier Reef Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) population found that 87% of adult turtles were female, rising to 99% in juvenile and subadult turtles. The difference in sex ratio between these two age groups was suggested to indicate an increase in the proportion of females in recent decades, likely due to rising sand temperatures.
Other climate change impacts such as rising sea levels and frequent storms further endanger nesting habitats and reduce nesting success. To address the issue, six different management actions were agreed by governments, giving them a suite of options to be used, depending on local conditions:
Manage threats to individual females, nests, and hatchlings on the beach
Prevent beach erosion with sound coastal management practices
Use Managed Retreat options to manage inappropriate developments
Protect or defend coastal infrastructure/turtle nesting beaches through e.g. beach nourishment schemes
Sacrifice infrastructure to re-establish coastal processes
Apply spatial planning approaches to ensure sufficient habitat is available away from competing activities and intact coastal connectivity.
The appropriate use of in situ protection and ex situ egg relocation or hatcheries was also discussed as being an option of last resort.
The meeting also discussed the unintentional negative impacts from efforts to protect coastal property from rising sea levels. These coastal constructions can disrupt beach dynamics, affect sediment movement, and harm the nesting and incubation environments, posing significant risks to hatchlings.
The meeting also advanced efforts to address the protection of important habitats for marine turtles. The Network of Sites of Importance for Marine Turtles in the Indian Ocean – South-East Asia Region was formally adopted by the 6th Meeting of Signatory States to the IOSEA Marine Turtle MOU in 2012 and to date fifteen sites have been added to the Network, including four at this meeting:
Cox’s Bazar Coast in Bangladesh: An important nesting site for Olive Ridley and green turtles, with Hawksbill turtles observed inshore. The extensive beach offers resilience against natural and human impacts, with significant cultural and social value for local communities.
Al Qurm Protected Area in the United Arab Emirates: A vital foraging site for juvenile green sea turtles, featuring diverse habitats including rocky reefs, mudflats, and mangroves. This area provides undisturbed foraging opportunities and showcases a migratory link to Masirah, Oman.
Sharma, Jathmoun and Dhargum Natural Reserve in Yemen: A crucial nesting area for green turtles, free from disruptions such as lights and noise.
Khore Omiera Protected Area in Yemen: an important feeding ground of green turtles.
Governments also endorsed guidance on identifying critical habitats, including specifications for the life stages of each species of marine turtle.
Among other important measures, Signatory States adopted a Single Species Action Plan (SSAP) for the critically endangered hawksbill turtle in South-East Asia and the Western Pacific Ocean Region. This plan, developed in collaboration with CMS and adopted by all CMS Parties at the recent 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention (CMS COP14), aids governments in fulfilling commitments across various policy frameworks, addressing the complex linkages between community and commercial use of hawksbill turtles.
Additionally, a Work Programme for the years 2024-2028 was adopted, which sets in place agreed priorities in marine turtle conservation in the Indian Ocean South-East Asia region. Implementation will be aided by a renewed focus on capacity building for government officials, NGOs, community groups and the commercial sector.
Addressing the conservation of marine turtles is of global importance and provides an opportunity for countries to contribute to achieving wider goals such as the Samarkand Strategic Plan for Migratory Species, the UN Decade of Oceans Science for Sustainable Development and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
The IOSEA Marine Turtle MOU is an intergovernmental environmental treaty concluded under the auspices of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). It came into effect on September 1, 2001, and the Signatory States held their first meeting in Bangkok in 2003.
The MOU applies to the waters and coastal States of the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia and adjacent seas, extending eastwards to the Torres Strait. This agreement area is considered to cover 44 States of which 36 are to date Signatories to the MOU.
The IOSEA region is host to six out of seven existing species of marine turtles.
The Federal Government says it is focused on diversifying the energy mix by investing in renewable energy projects, hydrogen development and enhancing the regulatory framework to attract private investments.
Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil)
Amb. Nicholas Ella, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, made this during a Town Hall Meeting with the management and members of staff of the ministry on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Abuja.
The meeting was organised to brainstorm on the sustainable development of the oil and gas sector, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration.
Ella said the Ministry had taken significant steps in developing a hydrogen policy to diversify Nigeria’s energy mix and contribute to global efforts in reducing carbon emissions.
“This policy framework is aimed at establishing hydrogen as a viable alternative energy source and leveraging our existing gas infrastructure to produce green hydrogen,” he said.
Ella said that based on priority areas of the government, the cardinal objective of the engagement was to align their efforts with the presidential directive issued in January 2024, to “unlock the energy sector and natural resources for sustainable development.’’
“To understand the enormity and urgency of the tasks before us, we have to appreciate the vast energy needs of Nigerians – to power homes and industries.”
However, he appealed to all members of staff of the Ministry to brace up for the huge responsibilities placed on their shoulders as civil servants, to drive and sustain development in any society.
On gas infrastructure, Ella said the President placed high premium on gas infrastructure development and supply and had demonstrated this with the launch of the “Decade of Gas” programme and ensuring expansion in supply through the National Gas Expansion Programme.
“Under the “Decade of Gas” initiative, we significantly expanded gas infrastructure, including the AKK Gas Pipeline Project, the OB3 Gas Pipeline Project and the ANOH project being undertaken by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.)
“These projects are geared towards ensuring an efficient and widespread distribution of gas aimed at positioning Nigeria as a leading gas-powered economy,’’ he said.
The Permanent Secretary said it would ensure the full implementation of the Enterprise Content Management (ECM) by filling documents digitally, providing easy access to data and information, and storing them in line with legal requirements.
On discipline, the Ella warned that there would be zero tolerance for indiscipline, adding that every member of staff of the Ministry must live above board and act in accordance with service rules.
He assured the workers that their welfare and allowances would be prioritised, expressing gratitude for two amiable Ministers of State who are committed to the welfare of workers.
“We must justify that favourable disposition by giving it all our best.
“I am committed to the training and retraining of all staff within the limits of available resources. Our objective is to utilise credible training institutions to improve quality of training.
“Recognising the importance of human capital, the Ministry is partnering with educational institutions like the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) and the Public Service Institute of Nigeria, to provide training and skill development for our staff.
“The Ministry will implement a robust performance management system, setting clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to ensure accountability, transparency and effective service delivery, aligning with the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP) 2025,’’ he said.
He assured to put the ministry on the path of unmatched progress as it began to lobby to host the Africa Energy Bank (AEB).
“Nigeria will be a regional industrial hub and a key player in the African energy sector through collaborative efforts and comprehensive roadmaps.
“In line with my mandate under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), we are set to commence the process of implementing the Ministry of Petroleum Incorporated (MOPI), having obtained the legal opinion of the Ministry of Justice to that effect.
“The ministry initiated programmes to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the oil and gas sector.
“AI will be utilised to optimise exploration and production processes, enhance predictive maintenance of equipment and improve decision-making through data analytics.
“By adopting AI technologies, we aim to increase operational efficiency, reduce costs and minimise environmental impact, thereby positioning Nigeria’s oil and gas sector at the forefront of innovation.
“Committees were established to oversee these initiatives and ensure their successful implementation,’’ the permanent secretary said.
Earlier in her remarks, Mrs Asma’u Adaji, Director, Human Resources Management, while thanking the permanent secretary for the engagement, said it was a maiden edition since the permanent secretary assumed office.
Upon his resumption in February 2024, the permanent secretary had met with heads of departments and agencies under the ministry.
Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has called for greater sense of urgency in combating the challenges of climate change.
Ondo State officials at the unveiling of the initiatives
Aiyedatiwa said this on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at the unveiling of two global complimentary initiatives by Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO), the RUGIPO Centre for Climate Change and Ondo Diaspora Festival.
The theme of the programme is “Attaining Climate Smart Ondo State and Mega Cultural Bound Revenue Generation”.
Aiyedatiwa, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Environment, Niyi Oseni, said that climate change posed various dangers to human existence, hence the need to quickly proffer solutions to the menace.
The governor, who commended the management of RUGIPO for spearheading a cause to protect the environment, said: “Our collective existence is at risk unless utmost major decisions are made to address climate change.
“This being the reality, we must collectively begin to utilise the appropriate available platforms such as the RUGIPO Centre for Climate Change and Ondo Diaspora Festival Initiative to develop workable initiatives to nip climate change in the bud.
“Among other things, a climate smart city project requires energy efficiency support through a rapid deployment of energy efficient technologies, improved urban planning, access to climate information and financing.”
He said that the state government had made frantic efforts to combat the menace of climate change through the Ondo State Environmental Protection Agency (OSEPA).
He said that the agency had carried out public enlightenment through aggressive campaign against climate pollution.
According to him, people of the state are now aware and cautious of activities that can particularly trigger climate change.
Also, the Acting Rector of RUGIPO, Mr Olorunwa Adegun, said that it would be perilous for the world to ignore implications of climate change.
Adegun asked all hands to be on deck in the determined bid to massively and urgently address the global challenge posed by climate change.
He said that a tertiary institution, which is the most strategically positioned platform where solutions for societal challenges are proffered as products of research, has key roles to play.
The acting rector added that the attendant peril of climate change informed his resolve to establish a climate change centre in the institution.
According to him, the centre has a full-fledged potential based on the extant modalities of the United Nations.
Adegun assured that the centre would be made consistently functional in line with global best practices and would impact positively on both its immediate and remote environment.
He explained that the centre would develop adaptation and mitigation strategies to aid the United Nation’s development goals in its immediate environment and beyond.
Adegun stated that the two concepts: climate change and tourism/culture, were entwined to carry out research for huge benefits of the institution and the state.
Dr Zainab Obadakin, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Kogi, commended the management of the institution for its initiative on climate change and culture concepts.
Obadakin said that through diaspora cultural engagement, the two states could generate 1,000 direct and indirect job opportunities.
Mr Bamidele Ajayi, Head of Administration, RUGIPO Centre for Climate Change, said that the occasion was an innovative event to change the face of the institution.
Ajayi explained that the centre was a timely response to address the climate change implications, saying that no one should be left out in tackling climate change considering its great menace on the human existence.
He said that the institution through the centre was well positioned to tackle climate change.
The director called on every well-meaning Nigerian to support the initiative and ensure that the centre was able to fulfil its objectives toward human existence.
In his remarks, Olowo of Owo, Oba Gbadegesin Ogunoye, said that climate change was caused by human activities, hence the need for proper orientation.
Ogunoye, who was represented by Chief Amos Aladeseye, appreciated the institution’s initiative, saying it will go a long way in sensitising the people about climate change.
The Managing Director, Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Mr Abba Aliyu, has emphasised the need for aligning sector strategies to meet the country’s net-zero commitments.
Net zero means achieving a balance between the carbon emitted into the atmosphere and the carbon removed from it.
Aliyu made the call at a workshop organised by the Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria (REAN) with the theme “Aligning Sector Strategies with Net Zero Commitments” in Abuja on Thursday, June 27, 2024.
Aliyu, who was represented by Ms Ngozi Chimdi-Ejiogu, an acting director in REA, stressed the critical importance of Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the Energy Transition Plan (ETP) in the country’s journey towards a sustainable future.
He noted that Nigeria was committed to significantly reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions under the Paris Agreement.
“In July 2021, the nation reaffirmed its pledge to reduce emissions by 20 per cent below business-as-usual levels by 2030, with plans to increase this reduction to 47 per cent contingent on international support.
“The Federal Ministry of Environment’s 2021 NDC update highlighted the energy sector as the largest emitter, responsible for 60 per cent of emissions, primarily from oil and gas activities, transport, electricity generation and residential and industrial energy consumption.
“Agriculture, forestry, waste, and industrial processes also contribute to the country’s overall emissions,” he said.
Aliyu outlined a multi-faceted strategy to bridge the gap between sectors and align with Nigeria’s NDCs and ETP.
This strategy, according to him, includes strengthening policy and regulatory frameworks by developing sector-specific roadmaps and incentivizing sustainable practices.
Reflecting on the REA’s achievements, Aliyu highlighted the success of programmes like the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP), which had demonstrated significant strides in providing energy access.
“The REA is now focused on scaling these solutions by developing large-scale clean energy projects, driving economic impact beyond energy access, creating innovative financing solutions and strategic partnerships, stimulating demand for reliable power, and providing avenues for local and blended financing.
“The REA has already made substantial progress, with over 160 MW of clean energy deployed, 1.8 million connections made, impacting over 7 million Nigerians, and reducing carbon emissions by 1.6 million tonnes.
“The upcoming Distributed Access to Renewable Energy Scale up (DARES) Project aligns with the Paris Agreement, ensuring that all financed activities are consistent with Nigeria’s climate commitments, he explained.
He further explained the importance of a collective effort to meet Nigeria’s conditional and unconditional contributions, recognising the vital role each sector played in maintaining the global 1.5°C pathway.
He, therefore, called for continuous collaborative efforts to align strategies with Nigeria’s net-zero commitments, urging active participation from all stakeholders.
Aliyu expressed confidence that the deliberations and collaborations from the dialogue would significantly contribute to the global effort to align sector strategies and build a more sustainable, equitable, and energy-secure future for Nigeria.
On his part, Mr Somkele Awa-Kalu from Sustainable Energy for All/Energy Transition Office, in an interview with newsmen on Nigeria’s energy transition, explained the nation’s progress towards a sustainable, low-carbon economy.
He added that the workshop aimed to assess Nigeria’s journey towards this goal and to delve into the implementation of the Energy Transition Plan by the Energy Transition Office.
Awa-Kalu underscored the importance of understanding recent developments in the energy transition and highlighted the long-standing collaboration with key stakeholders in the renewable energy landscape, including the Energy Transition Office.
He added that the workshop would address the need for enhanced partnerships within the renewable energy sector, which he described as both nascent and essential.
He called for stakeholders to support one another, align their objectives, and collaborate to facilitate and accelerate the energy transition.
In his presentation, Awa-Kalu stressed the necessity of improving access to low-cost financing for renewable energy projects.
He highlighted the importance of the Energy Transition Plan within the framework of the Renewed Hope Agenda, a key focus of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Awa-Kalu urged stakeholders to work together to ensure the availability of appropriate financing and an enabling environment, including supportive policies, to advance renewable energy objectives.
The workshop aims at significant step in Nigeria’s commitment to achieving a low-carbon economy, reinforcing the collaborative efforts required to meet the nation’s renewable energy goals.
