The Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), Mr. Olufemi Soneye, has resigned from his position.
Mr. Olufemi Soneye
Soneye, in a message posted on his Facebook page on Saturday, June 21, 2025, said the decision would allow him to devote more time to his family and attend to personal responsibilities that required his closer presence.
He expressed gratitude to his colleagues for their support and collaboration in helping to shape and amplify the NNPC story over the past 20 months.
“Dear esteemed colleagues, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to you all for the unwavering support, professionalism, and genuine commitment you’ve shown in helping to shape and amplify the NNPC Ltd. story over the past 20 months.
“Your role in building a vibrant and effective communications presence for our national energy company has been nothing short of invaluable.
“I wish to inform you that I have stepped aside from my role as Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd.
“This decision will allow me to devote more time to my family and attend to personal responsibilities that now require my closer presence,” Soneye said.
He expressed profound honour to have served both the company and the country, and contributed in his own way to the ongoing transformation of NNPC Ltd.
Soneye also expressed gratitude for the trust reposed in him, the opportunities granted and the incredible professionals both within and outside the organisation with whom he had worked.
“I remain a steadfast supporter and ambassador of NNPC Ltd. wherever I go.
“I enjoin you, dear colleagues, to continue your robust, balanced and constructive reportage in support of the company’s noble mission and strategic role in Nigeria’s energy future,” he said.
Experts in the agriculture sector have urged the Federal Government to prioritise organic farming and reduce reliance on hazardous agrochemicals, which threatens public health and limit Nigeria’s access to international markets.
Organic farming
They made the call in an interview in Karshi, Abuja during a visit to organic farms as part of a field report on sustainable agricultural practices.
Mr. Adams Peter, Managing Director of Amadam’s Organic Agricultural Company, said Nigeria’s overdependence on chemical-based farming has become a major barrier to global trade.
“Our food exports are being rejected in many countries because they are not organic and are contaminated by chemicals,” Peter disclosed.
He explained that most farmers lack proper training on the safe use of synthetic pesticides and fertilisers which leads to misuse and unsafe residue levels in food.
Peter, whose company has been operating since 2001, said his organisation is focused on organic farming because of its multiple benefits to health, environment and the economy.
“Organic agriculture is not only safer for consumers; it also nourishes the soil and protects the ecosystem.
“It creates employment, especially for Nigerians and can improve household income.”
He noted that in spite of growing awareness about food safety, organic food remains largely inaccessible in many urban centres.
“We hardly find organic vegetables or foodstuff in Abuja markets, that is why we are working with our network to set up dedicated organic food markets across the FCT.
“Government support for organic farming is still very low. If we’re serious about improving food quality and boosting exports, we must invest in organic agriculture,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr. Donald Ikenna, Lead Coordinator of the Alliance for Action on Pesticide in Nigeria, warned about the growing use of highly hazardous chemicals in the country’s food production system.
“More than 40 per cent of the chemicals used by farmers in Nigeria are classified as highly hazardous, this puts both farmers and consumers at serious risk.”
Ikenna said the widespread use of such chemicals has been linked to an increase in cancer, kidney failure and other chronic diseases.
“People are falling ill from what they eat and the economy is also suffering as we lose billions to rejected food exports.”
He stressed the need for a national shift to safer and science-backed alternatives, including biopesticides, organic fertilisers and agroecological practices.
He called on state governments and lawmakers to ensure constituency projects support organic farming initiatives at the grassroots.
“We have the local capacity to produce organic farm inputs in Nigeria. What we need is investment, training and strong political will.
“We must stop pumping money into harmful chemicals and start building systems that promote health, sustainability and long-term food security.”
Organic and agroecological farming is gaining momentum globally as a safer, climate-friendly alternative to conventional agricultural practices.
An environmental expert, Prof. Babajide Alo, says Nigeria stands to benefit significantly from the economic and environmental opportunities offered by the newly adopted international ocean treaty.
Prof. Babajide Alo
Alo, who disclosed this in interview on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Lagos, said the treaty would promote sustainable use of ocean resources, create jobs, and open Nigeria to global benefit-sharing mechanisms.
The recently signed ocean treaty, also known as the High Seas Treaty or Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, aims to protect marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, covering over 64 per cent of the world’s oceans.
It aims to safeguard biodiversity in the two-thirds of the ocean that lies outside of national jurisdictions.
This landmark agreement is expected to usher in a new era of ocean governance and offer opportunities for sustainable use of marine resources.
This historic agreement was adopted by the United Nations in June 2023, after nearly two decades of negotiations.
Alo, Nigeria’s lead negotiator for the BBNJ Treaty, described the treaty as a landmark agreement with the potential to revolutionise the way we manage and conserve the world’s oceans.
“The BBNJ Treaty, also known as the High Seas Treaty, aims to regulate areas beyond national jurisdiction, which covers approximately 75 per cent of the world’s oceans.
“These areas, often referred to as the ‘high seas,’ are crucial for sustaining human life, and their conservation is essential for the health of our planet.
“Nigeria actively participated in the negotiations, recognising the potential benefits of the treaty, including access to new areas for oil and gas exploration, as well as diverse biological resources,” he said.
The expert said that, with the treaty in place, Nigeria and other countries would have the opportunity to access and benefit from the vast resources of the high seas.
“These will include marine genetic resources, which have the potential to lead to breakthroughs in medicine and other fields.
“There is no doubt that Nigeria can benefit immensely from the vast resources and opportunities provided by the ocean.
“With this new treaty now in place, particularly through the implementation of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), we have an opportunity for both economic growth and sustainable development.
Alo noted that the EIAs were critical tools that guide responsible exploitation of marine resources, helping to protect biodiversity while enabling economic activity.
“If all marine-related activities are carried out with the EIAs in place, Nigeria can achieve long-term sustainability in ocean use,” he said.
He added that the treaty would bring social and economic benefits, particularly in job creation and foreign revenue.
“As we implement the elements of the treaty, there will be demand for people who will go out and cultivate marine genetic resources.
“The capturing and study of new marine species, for example, will feed into research and industry. From medicine to cosmetics, ultimately benefiting the economy,” he said.
Alo expressed optimism that Nigerian leaders would recognise the potential and act swiftly.
“We are praying and hoping that our leaders will quickly see the value in this initiative.
“The benefits will not only create jobs but also bring new revenue streams through a global fund attached to the treaty.
According to him, once Nigeria becomes a party to the treaty, it will be eligible to access this fund, which is designated for countries contributing to the implementation of its objectives.
“Benefit sharing is a key element in the treaty. I cannot put exact figures now, but it could run into millions of dollars,” he said.
Alo also called for urgent policy reforms to tackle marine pollution and illegal fishing.
“We need to strengthen pollution control measures so that our oceans are less polluted.
“Also, illegal fishing in our coastal waters must be addressed through enforceable policies. Reducing these activities will boost our marine economy and preserve our resources.
“The new treaty, adopted under the United Nations framework, is aimed at conserving and sustainably using marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction,” he said.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, says the state is on the verge of making history, positioning itself to become the first West African geopolitical zone to eliminate malaria.
Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi
This, Abayomi says, will not be through a vaccine or genetically modified mosquitoes, but by employing “simple common sense” medical practices and a robust public health strategy.
This ambitious goal is driven by the state/ministry and Prof. Wellington Oyibo, Director of the Centre for Transdisciplinary Research for Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases.
For decades, malaria has been a prevalent health challenge across Africa.
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says.
According to it, there is an estimated 236 million malaria cases (95 per cent of global cases) and 590,935 malaria deaths (97 per cent of global deaths) in African member states in 2022.
Abayomi said there was need to get malaria out of the region.
He said this at the Study Kick-Off of Pathway to Pre-Elimination and Digitisation Project in Lagos State.
Its focus is on Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test and Microscopy Comparative Study & Assessment of PPMVS’ Capacity to Manage Malaria and Febrile Illnesses.
“It is very, very important that we do that once and for all, ’’ he said.
The commissioner said: “Lagos has diligently waged a “war against malaria” for the past 20 years. The cumulative efforts have yielded remarkable results.”
According to him, malaria prevalence among fever patients has plummeted from 15 per cent to 20 per cent to just about one to two per cent.
“This data spurred Gov. Sanwo-Olu to back a strategy aimed at achieving malaria elimination within the state.
“Where malaria used to be 20 per cent to 15 per cent of people with fever, it is now down to between one per cent and two per cent, meaning that our strategy is working.
“This significant reduction prompted a bold decision from Gov. Sanwo-Olu.
“When we got this data, we took it straight to His Excellency, Mr Governor.
“Commissioner for Health, do it,” Abayomi recounted the governor as saying, highlighting the strong political will behind this groundbreaking initiative.
The core of this strategy, tagged “test, treat, and track,” moves beyond the traditional focus solely on treating malaria.
“Instead, it prioritises accurate diagnosis of the actual cause of fever, which, in Lagos, is now rarely malaria.
“A significant component of the strategy involves transitioning from outdated diagnostic methods, while microscopy has been the ‘gold standard’.”
Abayomi, however, noted its limitations in low-resource settings due to requirements for good equipment, skilled personnel, and electricity, leading to “very big mistakes.”
“The state is therefore embracing Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs), which are highly accurate, more efficient, cheaper, and more feasible for widespread use across all healthcare settings, from community pharmacies to primary healthcare centers (PHCs).
“A comparative study led by Professor Oyibo will further validate RDTs’ superiority.
`”The ‘track’ element of the strategy is focused on environmental interventions.”
The commissioner clarified that fumigation was not the primary solution; rather, “the emphasis is on good environmental sanitation”.
“This includes eliminating stagnant water, clearing blocked drainages, and properly covering water collections in homes—measures that directly prevent mosquito breeding.
He added: “If a rare malaria case is detected, it triggers an investigation into the immediate environment to identify and eliminate the source of transmission.”
Oyibo said the ambitious goal was being driven by a strategic shift in fever management and a commitment to evidence-based practices.
The consultant medical parasitology and Study Coordinator affirmed that, for decades, malaria had been synonymous with fever across Africa, often leading to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment.
“Whenever you talk about Africa, the thing that comes to mind is malaria and poverty and famine.
“However, data from Lagos now indicates a dramatic reduction in malaria prevalence.
“The evidence we are seeing right now shows that Lagos State has come to a place where, from all indications, if you say you have fever, it’s not likely going to be malaria in over 90 per cent of the cases.
“This critical insight underpins the state’s new “test, treat, and track” approach,” he said.
Oyibo stressed the dangers of treating fevers as malaria without proper testing, citing severe consequences, especially for children.
“If it is a child that has pneumonia… and you now give anti-malaria medicine without doing a test. What will happen to that child? That child will die quickly of pneumonia,” he warned.
“The strategy emphasises testing for malaria first.
“If negative – which is now the most common outcome – healthcare providers are then mandated to investigate other potential causes of fever.
“ This commitment to accurate diagnosis ensures “our quality of care is not being done fully at all,” Oyibo said.
“The initiative also seeks to streamline diagnostic methods, with a study currently underway to validate the superiority of Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) over traditional microscopy for widespread use.”
Oyibo highlighted the crucial role of political will from the Lagos State Government, describing it as “one of the greatest commitments we have from Lagos State, which we are still looking for in Africa”.
“This determination, combined with support from partners like the WHO and National Malaria Elimination Program, is propelling Lagos towards a future where malaria is no longer a major public health challenge.
“Lagos State can drive that now. They are the only state in Nigeria that has reached that,” he noted.
He explained that “Lagos aims to prove that by leveraging accurate data, implementing evidence-based practices, and fostering a disciplined approach to medicine, malaria can be eliminated, setting a powerful precedence for the rest of the continent.”
As the world searches for answers to the climate crisis and the global backsliding of human rights, Indigenous Women says they are doing much more than just resisting: they are leading.
Indigenous Women from Panama
From Colombia to Papua New Guinea, they believe they are regenerating ecosystems, promoting circular economies, and defending their territories with solutions that appear to be working.
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the International Indigenous Women’s Forum (FIMI), women leaders from around the world are gathering in Lima, Peru, to celebrate their achievements, share knowledge, strengthen alliances, and chart strategies to face global challenges.
“This anniversary is not just a commemoration, but a political act that defies the current context of setbacks in rights and reduced funding for equality.”
In this context, FIMI is launching a report titled“Beijing +30: Indigenous Women in Action,” which reveals both the critical situation faced by Indigenous Women and the transformative solutions they are already leading in response to the climate crisis, structural inequalities, and systemic violence.
The document presents concrete evidence of the challenges faced by Indigenous Women worldwide and documents initiatives led by them in various regions to address these inequalities. The report sends an urgent message: to continue ignoring this leadership is to squander some of the most effective and sustainable solutions to the climate, human rights, and social justice crises that threaten the world today.
The report is enriched by the direct contributions of Indigenous Women and Youth from Africa, Asia, the Pacific, the Americas, and the Arctic, who are implementing effective solutions and strategies to protect their territories, cultures, and ways of life on the planet. These proposals, which integrate ancestral knowledge with science and technology, not only respond to local challenges but can also be adapted and replicated in different contexts around the world. The document presents a solid base of qualitative and quantitative evidence on the challenges they face and the solutions implemented.
More than asking for support, they propose reciprocity, shifting the traditional narrative and making visible what women from different Indigenous Peoples are already doing for the planet, despite facing systemic violence and receiving merely 1.4% of the global funding allocated to women and girls.
“Funding must reach grassroots organizations and influence local and regional governments to achieve the implementation of GR39, and to secure its application worldwide,” stated Tarcila Rivera Zea (Quechua, Peru), founder of FIMI.
The Federal Government of Nigeria on Friday, June 20, 2025, reiterated its commitment toward protecting and assisting all the 138,154 refugees in the country to rebuild their lives.
Refugees
Alhaji Tijani Ahmed, the Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), expressed the commitment at the 2025 World Refugee Day in Abuja.
World Refugee Day is celebrated on June 20 of every year to raise awareness on refugees’ situations around the world.
The theme for this year’s Day is: “Solidarity with Refugees: A call to Action for Inclusion”.
Ahmed noted that the figures represented registered refugees and asylum seekers living in 33 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He explained that the forcibly displaced persons originated from 48 countries, with six nationalities – Cameroon, Niger, Syria, Central African Republic and Sudan making up 86 per cent.
Out of the 138,154 refugees and asylum seekers in Nigeria, he said that there were 32,746 awaiting registration.
“We have 16,215 returnees and 1,396 spontaneous returnees, while the IDPs we have in camps are 3,576,100,” he said.
Ahmed further stated that the IDPs, when added those living outside the camps, that is, the ones living within host communities, would be no fewer than 6.2 million, with many of them innocent women and children.
“So as we celebrate the World Refugee Day, we recognise the contributions refugees have made to our communities.
“It is an invitation to honour refugees’ voices, strengthen community ties and amplify the need for inclusion in national systems, such as social protection and local development frameworks,” he said.
According to him, the objective of the commemoration of World Refugee Day is to celebrate the resilience of refugees and to reiterate the need for countries to support millions of families all over the world who have lost their homes because of violence or war.
“It is a day to recognise the challenges and hardship that refugees face but honour their courage and resilience in the face of overwhelming obstacles and above all, we celebrate their many valuable contributions to nation building.
“As the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, together with our partners, we are proud to have played a crucial role in protecting and assisting refugees in Nigeria,” he added.
Ahmed said that over the years, the commission had worked tirelessly to ensure that refugees received the support they needed to rebuild their lives.
He listed some notable achievements of the commission to include: provision of protection and assistance to thousands of refugees, ensuring their safety and dignity and voluntary repatriation of Nigerian refugees from the neighboring countries of Cameroon and Chad.
Meanwhile, the Filippo Grandi-United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has called for collective efforts among countries toward protecting displaced persons in the society.
Represented by Bernadette Muteshi, Grandi stressed the need for supporting the host countries and communities by sharing the responsibility of protecting refugees.
“We must stand with refugees to keep alive their hopes of a better future.
“This World Refugee Day and every day, governments, institutions, companies and individuals can prove that by helping those caught up in senseless conflicts, we move towards greater stability, humanity and justice for us all.
“If we do so, I can promise you that refugees will bring all their courage, spirit and ingenuity to the task of creating a better and brighter tomorrow,” he said.
On his part, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, described the World Refugee Day as a call to action, saying that refugees were not just statistics but fathers, mothers and children whose lives were interrupted.
Represented by the Director of Humanitarian in the ministry, Hajia Jummai Katagun, Yilwatda reaffirmed government’s commitment to the Global Compact on Refugees to ensure, not just protection but opportunity, safety and belonging.
“They are our neighbours and we must let no borders define our humanity. As crises grow more complex, from violent conflicts to climate displacement, so too must our response grow more courageous.
“As the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, our vision is to build a nation where no displaced person is left behind, where every refugee can rise, rebuild and thrive,” the minister said.
At the ongoing 62nd Session of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies (SB62) in Bonn, Germany, Aishat A. Barde, Commissioner of Environment and Climate Change of Taraba State in Nigeria, made a strong case for the inclusion and empowerment of subnational actors in the evolving Global Climate Action Agenda as the world prepares for COP30 in Belém, Brazil.
Aishat A. Barde, Taraba State Commissioner of Environment and Climate Change (third from right) at the Bonn Climate Change Conference in Germany
Speaking on Friday, June 20, 2025, during a high-level session led by the incoming COP30 Presidency and the UN Climate High-Level Champions, Barde answered critical intervention questions: What have your initiatives been able to deliver so far? And how can the framework that we just presented support you in delivering more and faster?
In her remarks, Barde highlighted Taraba State’s dual reality: a region blessed with rich biodiversity, cultural heritage, natural resources and diverse ecological zones such as the iconic Gashaka Gumti National Park, yet increasingly vulnerable to the escalating impacts of climate change, including flooding, drought, soil erosion, and desertification.
Barde emphasised that while global ambition is vital, implementation is local. She outlined a number of bold climate initiatives Taraba State has already undertaken that align with the themes of the emerging Global Climate Action Agenda:
Institutional Reform: The transformation of the Ministry of Environment into the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to mainstream climate governance and enhance inter-agency coordination.
Community Engagement: Targeted awareness campaigns on climate change across local communities, with special emphasis on mobilizing women through clean cooking initiatives.
Budgetary Commitment: In 2024, the State dedicated 5% of its budget to the Re-Greening Taraba Initiative, advancing afforestation and sustainable environmental practices.
Massive Tree-Planting Campaign: A successful 2 million tree planting drive, featuring a mix of economic and native species to combat land degradation and enhance carbon sequestration.
The State’s government Strategic Planning: through the drafted first-ever Climate Change Policy and Action Plan, laying out a pathway to a climate-resilient Taraba by 2060. The plan ambitious targets as: 90% renewable energy penetration by 2060; 30% reduction in transport sector emissions by 2030; Large-scale restoration of degraded lands through afforestation; and Promotion of climate smart Agricultural and livestock practices.
Call for Global Support
Commissioner Barde used the platform to call for deeper partnerships and support from international institutions and climate finance mechanisms: “Subnational governments are closest to the risks – and to the solutions.”
She acknowledged the growing support from partners like the Federal Ministry of Environment, National Council on Change Secretariat, Under2 Coalition, and Afrange African Climate Foundation, but stressed the urgent need for capacity building, technology transfer, and direct access to climate finance, particularly grants-based climate funds for adaptation and mitigation projects.
Conclusion
The intervention underscored how subnational entities like Taraba State are not only willing but capable of delivering transformative climate solutions – if empowered. As the world looks toward COP30, voices like Taraba’s are essential in shaping a truly inclusive, action-oriented global climate agenda.
In commemoration of the 2025 World Environment Day, International Breweries Plc (IBPLC), a proud part of AB InBev (the world’s largest brewer) and the producer of Trophy Lager, Trophy Extra Stout, Hero Lager, Castle Lite and Budweiser, carried out a series of environmental activities across its operational sites in Nigeria.
L-R: Communications and Sustainability Manager, International Breweries PLC, Damian Igwe; Regional Manager, Recycling, Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Kehinde Ruqayah; Executive Director, Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA), Agharese Onaghise; Director of Administration, World Safety Organization, Emmanuel Abayowa, and Head of Operations, Zone 12, Alausa, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA). Olufemi Ajayi, at the community education/awareness on plastic recycling and a campaign against plastic waste pollution in commemoration of World Environment Day in Ikeja, Lagos
The activities were conducted under the framework of Africa Sustainability Week, an AB InBev regional initiative designed to drive awareness and coordinated sustainability efforts across the company’s key markets in the continent.
Across all five locations, including Abuja, International Breweries employees, local partners, and community volunteers participated in riverbank cleanups and community education targeting rivers and public spaces. The company said the efforts were aimed at reducing plastic pollution in urban and semi-urban environments, while also fostering environmental responsibility among residents.
“Sustainability is not just a corporate goal, it is a way of life for us at International Breweries,” said Carlos Coutino, Managing Director of International Breweries PLC. “We are proud to join the world in celebrating this important day by taking real action from restoring land and cleaning our rivers to promoting circularity in packaging. We believe in leaving the environment better than we met it, and that requires commitment, collaboration, and consistency.”
Continuing, Coutino said: “We had made circular packaging a key focus of our sustainability strategy. Over95% of our product portfolio is packaged in returnable glass bottles, a measure aimed at reducing waste and supporting reuse models in line with our circular economy sustainability pillar.”
In addition, International Breweries recovered over 200,000 kilogrammes of post-consumer PET and flexible plastic from the environment in 2024 through its partnership with the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA). The effort is part of its compliance with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations and broader environmental stewardship goals.
“We recognise that our responsibility to the environment extends beyond compliance, it’s about leadership and long-term impact,” said Temitope Oguntokun, Corporate Affairs & Regulatory Director at International Breweries. “That’s why we’ve set bold 2025 goals to ensure 100% of our product packaging is either returnable or made from predominantly recycled materials. These aren’t just targets they’re part of our core purpose to create a future with more cheers, for people and the planet.”
At each brewery location, the company also engaged with residents and local authorities through sensitisation campaigns. In Lagos, waste sorting demonstrations and plastic recycling talks were held to improve public awareness on how individual behaviours impact the environment.
“Our collaboration with manufacturers like International Breweries is a demonstration of our collective commitment to beat plastic pollution,” said Agharese Onaghise, Executive Director of the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance. “By supporting community-based recovery and launching collection hubs in places like Osogbo, Mararaba and Nasarawa, we are helping ensure post-consumer packaging is diverted from waterways and landfills into recycling value chains.”
Government representatives present at some of the activities also acknowledged the impact of the clean-up initiatives. In Rivers State, Sir Alwell Chinedum Okereuku JP, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, commended the efforts of International Breweries and other partners.
“International Breweries’s consistent efforts to tackle plastic pollution have not gone unnoticed,” he said. “We are proud of this collaboration and will continue to partner to protect our environment. This is not just about stakeholders, it’s about shared ownership of our future.”
Beyond environmental actions, International Breweries is also supporting sustainability through its Kickstart youth entrepreneurship programme, which has funded several startups in the recycling and waste-to-wealth sectors. The company noted that its support for small-scale circular economy ventures complements its operational sustainability efforts.
International Breweries Plc is a proud part of Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), the world’s largest brewer with over 500 brands. As part of a global brand, International Breweries has a dream of bringing people together for a Future with More Cheers through the building of great brands that stand the test of time using the finest natural ingredients.
The hosts of the most recent UN climate talks are worried international lenders are retreating from their commitments to help boost funding for developing countries’ response to global warming.
Mukhtar Babayev, COP29 President
This anxiety has grown as the Trump administration has slashed foreign aid and discouraged US-based development lenders like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund from focussing on climate finance.
Developing nations, excluding China, will need an estimated $1.3 trillion a year by 2035 in financial assistance to transition to renewable energy and climate-proof their economies from increasing weather extremes.
But nowhere near this amount has been committed.
At last year’s UN COP29 summit in Azerbaijan, rich nations agreed to increase climate finance to $300 billion a year by 2035, an amount decried as woefully inadequate.
Azerbaijan and Brazil, which is hosting this year’s COP30 conference, have launched an initiative to plug the shortfall that includes expectations of “significant” contributions from international lenders.
But so far only two – the African Development Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank – have responded to a call to engage the initiative with ideas, said COP29 president Mukhtar Babayev.
“We call on their shareholders to urgently help us to address these concerns,” he told climate negotiators at a high-level summit in the German city of Bonn this week.
“We fear that a complex and volatile global environment is distracting” many of those expected to play a big role in bridging the climate finance gap, he added.
His team travelled to Washington in April for the IMF and World Bank’s spring meetings hoping to find the same enthusiasm for climate lending they had encountered a year earlier.
But instead they found institutions “very much reluctant now to talk about climate at all”, said Azerbaijan’s top climate negotiator Yalchin Rafiyev.
This was a “worrisome trend”, he said, given expectations these lenders would extend the finance needed in the absence of other sources.
“They’re very much needed,” he said.
The United States, the World Bank’s biggest shareholder, has sent a different message.
On the sidelines of the April Spring meetings, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged the bank to focus on “dependable technologies” rather than “distortionary climate finance targets.”
This could mean investing in gas and other fossil fuel-based energy production, he said.
Money matters
Under the Paris Agreement, wealthy developed countries – those most responsible for global warming to date – are obligated to pay climate finance to poorer nations.
But other countries, most notably China, do make their own voluntary contributions.
Finance is a source of long-running tensions at UN climate negotiations.
Donors have consistently failed to deliver on past finance pledges, and committed well below what experts agree developing nations need to prepare for the climate crisis.
The issue flared again this week in Bonn, with nations at odds over whether to debate financial commitments from rich countries during the formal meetings.
European nations have also pared back their foreign aid spending in recent months, raising fears that budgets for climate finance could also face a haircut.
At COP29, multilateral development banks (MDBs) led by the World Bank Group estimated they could provide $120 billion annually in climate financing to low and middle income countries, and mobilise another $65 billion from the private sector by 2030.
Their estimate for high income countries was $50 billion, with another $65 billion mobilised from the private sector.
Rob Moore, of policy think tank E3G, said these lenders are the largest providers of international public finance to developing countries.
“Whilst they are facing difficult political headwinds in some quarters, they would be doing both themselves and their clients a disservice by disengaging on climate change,” he said.
The World Bank in particular has done “a huge amount of work” to align its lending with global climate goals.
“If they choose to step back this would be at their own detriment, and other banks like the regionally based MDBs would likely play a bigger role in shaping the economy of the future,” he said.
The World Bank did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Skilled Women Initiative (TSWINI), an NGO, has trained and empowered 30 underserved women on the services of electric tricycle, locally known as Keke NAPEP, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
A cross section of women trained on electric tricycle services by The Skilled Women Initiative (TSWINI) in Abuja
The comprehensive training offered modules on electric vehicle assembly, driving, maintenance, troubleshooting, safety, and clean energy use.
According to the organisers, the four-week hands-on training was executed through the NGO’s flagship RideVolt Electric Mobility Programme, aimed at reducing carbon emissions, promoting economic sustainability and tackling the rising cost of fuel.
In her remarks at the graduation ceremony on Friday, June 20, 2025, Chisom Nwankwo, founder of TSWINI and the RideVolt Programme, said the programme aligned Nigeria’s green energy trajectory with gender-inclusive economic growth.
According to her, the training is a flagship initiative of TSWINI in collaboration with other stakeholders .
She said the 30 women, most of whom were previously unemployed or underemployed, now possess practical skills that position them as pioneer contributors in Nigeria’s emerging green economy.
“Our goal is to place these women at the center of the clean mobility revolution, and we have empowered each with an electric mobility tool box as starter packs.
“By equipping them with electric vehicle skills, we are opening up sustainable income opportunities while addressing transportation challenges and climate goals; these women will not only drive change, but they will also steer it.
“The RideVolt by TSWINI programme’s impact reaches beyond individual empowerment; we are building the future of transportation ,one woman, one electric vehicle at a time.
“As these women prepare to be employed as drivers and operators of RideVolt’s clean mobility services across estates, universities, hospitals, and markets, their work will directly reduce local air pollution and decrease reliance on fossil-fuel-based transport.
“The ripple effect of this is cleaner communities, improved public health, and inclusive economic participation particularly for women and youth,” she said.
Nwankwo said TSWINI plans to expand the programme to other parts of Nigeria and scale its clean transportation and energy offerings.
She therefore urged stakeholders, including development agencies, government bodies, and private sector players to support the next cohort of trainees, to help establish female-led e-mobility hubs, and invest in localised manufacturing of e-mobility components.
According to her, 10 women out of the 30 trained will automatically be employed under the Skilled Women’s RideVolt and VoltHub programmes of the organisation.
She said they would be employed as drivers and operators in the Closed User Community Drive Programme for estates, universities, among other areas.
“These 10 women will start work by September this year, and the Skilled Women’s RideVolt will provide vehicles, mobile charging units for them, and onboard them.
“There is going to be a driving app, and this will offer them opportunities in different fields, the empowerment and engagement will continue in phases for others,” she said.
