Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, has urged stepped-up efforts to expand investment in renewable energy to localise production of equipment used in the sector.
Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi
Egypt’s energy strategy focuses on sustainability, new investments, and boosting domestic production of green technology components.
Daily News Egypt, a partner of TV BRICS, reported this.
During discussions with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, and Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Mahmoud Essmat, the president reviewed Egypt’s updated energy strategy, with an emphasis on clean energy, grid resilience, and industrial self-sufficiency.
Presidential spokesperson, Mohamed El-Shennawy, said the meeting addressed several key issues, including the diversification of Egypt’s energy mix, the integration of renewable sources and battery storage technologies.
It also addressed efforts to improve the performance of the national electricity grid through interconnection projects with neighbouring countries.
Mahmoud Essmat revealed that an additional 2,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity is planned, with investments estimated at $2.3 billion.
The agenda also covered efforts to enhance local manufacturing in the energy sector, including cooperation with leading international firms to establish domestic production facilities for storage batteries and wind turbines.
The move is part of a broader strategy to strengthen Egypt’s industrial base and reduce reliance on imports.
The current installed renewable capacity stands at 8,031 MW, derived from wind, solar, and hydroelectric sources.
The officials also reviewed projections under Egypt’s Integrated and Sustainable Energy Strategy, including solar and wind additions expected by mid-2028 and long-term goals for 2030.
Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited has rallied the support of nearly 500 chief executive officers and business leaders, all of whom are registered vendors with the company, in a bold push to accelerate oil and gas production in Nigeria.
Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited held its maiden edition of “Leaders and Contractors CEOs Safety Leadership Conference” with nearly 500 chief executive officers and business leaders, all of whom are registered vendors with the company, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. From left, Renaissance General Manager, Relations and Sustainable Development, Igo Weli; Managing Director & CEO, Tony Attah; Board Chairman, Dr. Layi Fatona; Chief Production Officer, Meshach Maichibi; and Director & Regional Coordinator, South-South Zone, for the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Dr. Musa Zagi
This commitment was sealed at the 2025 “Leaders and Contractors CEOs Safety Leadership Conference”, held on Wednesday, June 25, in Port Harcourt with the theme: “Sustaining Goal Zero in a Transition Environment – Our Part to Play.”
The conference served as a strategic platform for partners and stakeholders to align with Renaissance’s transformative vision: to become Africa’s leading oil and gas company, driving energy security and industrialisation sustainably.
Speaking at the event, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Renaissance, Tony Attah, described the company’s emergence as a symbol of ambition, renewal, and national opportunity.
“Renaissance is more than a name; it is a signal of a new era and a renewed commitment to excellence. We see it as a platform to catalyse Nigerian-led industrialisation, job creation, and economic growth,” Attah declared.
Attah described the Renaissance safety leadership conference as an essential part of the company’s journey. “It not only enhances collaboration and knowledge sharing, but it also reaffirms our commitment to a unified safety culture across all operations.”
He charged the business leaders to embrace the core values of Renaissance of collaboration, respect, integrity, safety, and performance which he said were foundational to Renaissance’s corporate culture and vendor expectations.
He said, “As we begin this new chapter, safety and asset integrity remain non-negotiable. We will walk this path together with our contractors, committed to our shared Goal Zero: zero harm to people and the environment.”
In his address, Chairman of Renaissance, Dr. Layi Fatona, and other senior leaders of the company including General Manager, Supply Chain, Gregory Akhibi, and General Manager, Greenfields Capital Projects, Mrs. Abimbola Tijani, reinforced the message of shared responsibility and collective ambition.
Tijani said, “This is not about production targets. It’s about generational impact. With over 600 million Africans still lacking access to electricity and 400 million of them in poverty, our mission is to unlock Nigeria’s immense resources and deliver prosperity through energy. But it requires deep partnership with our service providers, and above all, action.”
Responding to the charge by Renaissance leadership, Group Managing Director of The Future Concerns Group, Mr. Tony Oguike, expressed his company’s commitment to the Renaissance safety and leadership goals.
“I’m genuinely inspired. When your client is this focused and passionate, it drives your own commitment. Renaissance is clearly serious, and we’re ready to walk with them,” he said.
Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has reinforced Nigeria’s pivotal role in shaping Africa’s energy future through high-level engagements at the 2025 Africa Energy Forum in Cape Town, South Africa.
Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, with some delegates at the 2025 Africa Energy Forum in Cape Town, South Africa
The Minister participated in a closed-door Ministerial Roundtable where he shared Nigeria’s strategies for aligning policy, regulation and financing to drive efficiency and unlock investments in critical energy infrastructure. The session brought together public and private sector leaders to accelerate project implementation and harmonise private sector capabilities with national energy priorities.
During a panel discussion on energy transition, Adelabu emphasised Nigeria’s pragmatic approach, stating that while committed to decarbonisation, the country’s vast hydrocarbon resources remain vital for economic and energy security – a stance aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s vision.
He asserted that no transition agenda can succeed without a well-structured policy framework, highlighting Nigeria’s recently approved National Integrated Electricity Policy as a blueprint for harmonising power generation, transmission and distribution, including gas-to-power and renewable expansion.
Adelabu outlined key investment priorities including grid modernisation to enhance reliability, increased renewable energy integration, and decentralised energy solutions such as mini-grids and solar home systems.
“Nigeria is open for business across the entire energy spectrum – from hydrocarbons to clean energy,” Adelabu declared, sending a clear message to global investors.
The Minister also held strategic bilateral talks with key stakeholders, including South Africa’s Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, where both leaders agreed on the need for a stronger African voice in global energy forums like the G20. They explored market reforms including Nigeria’s privatisation experiences, grid expansion financing through public-private partnerships, and potential collaboration between regional power pools for a more integrated continental grid.
Adelabu also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deepening energy ties with the UK in discussions with His Majesty’s Deputy Trade Commissioner for Africa, Ben Ainsley. With the International Finance Corporation, he discussed expanding support for Nigeria’s energy compact covering both on-grid and off-grid electrification. Further engagements with Canada’s Ambassador and Siemens Energy focused on trade opportunities and grid modernization respectively.
Through these engagements, the Minister reinforced Nigeria’s leadership in driving a resilient, inclusive and sustainable energy future for Africa.
“Our goal is clear – energy access, sustainability and prosperity for Nigeria and the continent,” Adelabu stated, concluding a series of impactful discussions at the forum.
Environmental activists and climate change advocates seized the opportunity of a webinar hosted by Unity Bank to call for urgent and coordinated action to tackle Nigeria’s growing plastic pollution crisis, describing it as one of the greatest environmental threats facing the country today.
Plastic pollution
The call was made at the event marking the 2025 World Environment Day facilitated by Unity Bank’s Sustainability Team to fashion out innovative strategies to curb plastic pollution in Nigeria in line with this year’s global theme: “Ending Plastic Pollution.”
In his remarks, Mr. Usman Abdulkadir, Executive Director, Risk Management, Unity Bank Plc, reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to sustainability, adding that issues like plastic pollution carry deep risk implications for businesses and communities.
“Environmental degradation is increasingly a business risk, not just a corporate social concern,” Mr. Abdulkadir stated. “We must all begin to view environmental stewardship as a duty that cuts across sectors – finance, government, industry, and civil society. Unity Bank remains committed to integrating ESG principles into its risk frameworks and sustainability agenda.”
Guest speakers included leading waste management entrepreneurs and environmental activists such as Sunday Kolawole Sholanke, Co-founder/CEO of PETsPoint Recycling Nigeria; and Omoh Alokwe, Co-founder/CEO of Street Waste Company Limited.
Speaking at the Wwebinar, Mr. Sholanke decried the alarming volume of plastic waste in Nigeria, putting estimates on the country’s waste generation to about 596 million metric tonnes annually, with 88% of it neither reclaimed nor recycled.
“Nigeria ranks as the 9th highest contributor to global plastic pollution. Much of Nigeria’s plastic waste ends up in landfills, drainage systems, and water bodies, causing extensive environmental damage and posing serious health risks,” he explained.
He also shared startling global statistics: “Over one million plastic bottles and 10 million plastic bags are produced every minute. In 2020 alone, eight million tons of plastic bottles were produced globally, with less than 30% collected and under 10% recycled. The rest is dumped, burned, or abandoned in the environment, worsening risks of flooding, climate disruption, and disease.”
He identified poor waste management culture, low public awareness, and lack of community collection infrastructure as major factors aggravating the Nigeria’s plastic waste crisis.
Calling on the financial services sector to be more proactive, Sholanke urged Banks to invest in green financing by increasing access to affordable credit for green businesses and eco-friendly initiatives.
Also speaking, Omoh Alokwe emphasised the role of regulators in strengthening enforcement and updating policy frameworks to reduce harmful practices that fuel the global plastic crisis.
Also speaking in the same vein, Mr. Ibukun Coker, Head of Strategy and Innovation at Unity Bank Plc, emphasised the Bank’s commitment to sustainable practices and environmental protection, highlighting the role of the financial sector in driving meaningful change.
“Plastic pollution is not just an environmental issue, it is an economic and public health crisis,” said Mr. Coker. “At Unity Bank, we believe that sustainability should be more than a policy; it must be embedded in how we operate, the projects we finance, and the partnerships we build.”
The webinar offered a platform for robust dialogue around sustainable actions and innovative solutions that can mitigate the escalating threat of plastic pollution and promote environmental protection.
Unity Bank says it has consistently championed environmental causes, including its annual Earth Day partnerships with non-profits such as RESWAYE to clean the Royal Beach in Elegushi, Lagos, part of its mission to protect marine ecosystems.
In its most recent Earth Day campaign, the Bank challenged every staff member across 32 states to plant a tree in their locality, driving a grassroots reforestation movement and reinforcing environmental awareness.
Shelter Afrique Development Bank (ShafDB), a leading Pan-African multilateral development bank committed to financing and advancing housing, urban, and related infrastructure development, has signed a $15 million loan agreement with Banque Mauritanienne de l’Investissement (BMI) to finance affordable housing in Mauritania.
The signing of the loan agreement between Shelter Afrique Development Bank and Banque Mauritanienne de l’Investissement
This transaction, signed Monday, June 23, 2025, in Nouakchott, Mauritania, is part of the ShafDB’s strategy to promote access to decent housing for low- and middle-income populations in Africa, and will strengthen Mauritania’s housing finance ecosystem, particularly for under-served populations.
The loan will be used to co-finance the construction of 1,000 homes in the town of Zoueratt and the servicing of 1,000 plots in the commune of Tevragh Zeina for the diaspora and residents.
Commenting on the agreement, Shelter Afrique Development Bank Managing Director, Mr Thierno-Habib Hann, noted that ShafDB and the BMI shared a similar vision: to help the diaspora and residents of the town of Zoueratt to build their own homes.
“This partnership with BMI will make it possible to offer affordable and decent housing to low-income households, filling part of the 50,000-housing deficit in Mauritania in a context where urbanisation is growing at a rate of 4%,” said Mr. Hann.
BMI Managing Director, Mohamed Yahya Sidi, welcomed the agreement, saying his institution was honoured to work with Shelter Afrique Development Bank to finance affordable housing projects in Mauritania.
“This partnership strengthens our commitment to Mauritania’s socio-economic development, broadens our inclusive housing finance solutions, and confirms our support for the country’s ambitious urban development programme,” said Mr. Sidi.
Through this partnership, it is estimated that around 5,000 jobs will be created, 12,400 people will benefit from the project and 2,000 households will gain access to housing through self-build or direct purchase.
Elephant Protection Initiative (EPI) Foundation Friend of the Month for June 2025 is the award-winning wildlife filmmaker from the Republic of Congo, Vianet Djenguet, who was first featured on a blog in 2023. Two years later, EPI caught up with Vianet, who has been working on a series called The Wild Ones, premiering on Apple TV on July 11, 2025.
He features as one of three experts who explore hidden corners of the world, trying to save six endangered species from extinction. With skilful camerawork and survival skills, the team races to find, record, and protect these elusive creatures before it’s too late
Vianet Djenguet
Looking back on your journey since we first spoke in our feature blog, how do you feel you’ve grown as a conservationist and storyteller?
Over the years, I’ve grown in both understanding and experience by working closely with conservationists across Africa, Southeast Asia, Europe, and America. I’ve come to understand just how complex conservation truly is, in that what works in one part of the world might not work in another. The key is protecting wildlife while maintaining a balanced ecosystem that includes humans. The goal is coexistence. The model I see most often, and one I believe in, is a symbiotic relationship between people and wildlife. In these systems, communities help protect a species and, in return, receive tangible benefits. There’s real success in that kind of mutual relationship.
As a storyteller, I’ve learnt to trust that both the animals and their stories will speak for themselves. I spend time observing wildlife through a lens, initially seeing them through a human perspective. But the heart of the story lies in what’s at stake for these animals, their need to be heard. These stories often become visceral and emotionally compelling experiences for audiences, who respond with empathy. Ultimately, it’s about connecting people to the natural world.
How did you become involved in The Wild Ones, and what drew you to the project?
I was drawn to the format of The Wild Ones from the very beginning. It gives a voice to species that would not survive without conservation efforts and to the people working tirelessly to protect the last few of their kind. I’ve always loved meeting local communities doing their best, often with limited resources, never backing down from the challenges they face. Witnessing their joy and sense of accomplishment in saving even one animal at a time is incredibly moving. Their dedication, tenacity, and courage deserve to be seen by audiences around the world.
Was there a moment during the filming when you felt particularly grateful for the experiences that brought you to this point?
Many moments during filming made me feel grateful to be part of this journey, but one in particular stands out. While filming off the coast of Canada, the rescue team encountered a right whale entangled in fishing nets. Its mouth was bound, and it was visibly distressed and weakened. The rescue team responded swiftly and decisively. Despite the danger, one flip of the whale’s massive tail could have overturned the boat, but they didn’t give up until the whale was freed. The moment it swam away brought a huge sense of relief and joy.
Another unforgettable moment happened while filming Western Lowland Gorillas in Gabon. The local guides and trackers were visibly overjoyed watching footage of a gorilla troop they had searched for over a long period. That moment revealed just how much these animals mean to them. Capturing the footage gave them hope, not just for the gorillas but for their futures. Successfully habituating that troop has the potential to bring sustainable income to their village, clean water, a school, and the means to protect their home and the forest they share with these magnificent animals.
QEDNG, the renowned online newspaper published by Mighty Media Plus Network Limited, has announced the launch of the QEDNG Creative Powerhouse Summit. This groundbreaking event will be held on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., at the prestigious Radisson Blu Hotel, Isaac John Street, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.
Olumide Iyanda, founder and chief executive officer of Mighty Media Plus Network Limited
With the theme “Financing as Catalysts for a Thriving Creative Economy,” the summit will bring together a diverse group of stakeholders, including industry leaders, investors, policymakers, and emerging talents, to discuss strategies for accelerating growth in Nigeria’s creative sector.
Olumide Iyanda, founder and chief executive officer of Mighty Media Plus Network Limited, highlighted the vision behind the summit.
“At QEDNG, we are committed to fostering creativity, credible journalism, and human capital development. This summit serves as a platform to address critical challenges and unlock the vast potential of Nigeria’s creative economy,” he said.
Nigeria’s creative sector, comprising film, music, art, fashion, advertising and digital media, contributes significantly to the country’s GDP and cultural identity. However, it faces barriers such as limited funding, technological deficits, and sustainability issues.
The summit will tackle these challenges by exploring innovative funding solutions, fostering partnerships between creatives and investors, and providing tools for effective financial management. It will also serve as a space for collaboration between creatives, industry leaders, and policymakers to drive sustainable growth.
The event is open to a wide range of participants, including artists, filmmakers, musicians, designers, academics, and financial institutions. It promises to provide attendees with valuable insights and opportunities to build meaningful connections within the industry.
“This summit is a strategic initiative to advance the creative economy,” Mr. Iyanda said. “It is designed to bridge gaps, provide resources, and empower stakeholders to drive transformative change. This aligns with QEDNG’s mission to support Nigeria’s cultural and economic development.”
QEDNG continues to be a leading voice in promoting Nigerian culture, creativity, and public affairs. Through the QEDNG Creative Powerhouse Summit, it aims to contribute meaningfully to shaping a vibrant and sustainable creative economy for Nigeria.
Further details about the summit, including the lineup of speakers and panellists, will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network on Thursday, June 26, 2025, released a new report on effective and equitable community-led energy solutions to address challenges to a worldwide just transition away from fossil fuels. The report, How Local Community Power is Central to a Just Renewable Energy Transition, spotlights scalable global community initiatives that are advancing decentralised and democratised energy solutions.
Wind energy versus coal fired power plant: Single wind turbine, a coal burning power plant with pollution and electricity pylons in the background
The report’s analysis explores some of the barriers to implementing a just transition and the complexities of shifting away from current social and economic structures. Such structures include economic systems that promote fossil fuel production (including the trillions of dollars in government fossil fuel subsidies); societal patterns characterised by overconsumption in high-income countries; and current models of utility companies that further enable fossil fuel use and discourage a transition to more affordable and beneficial energy alternatives.
The authors warn that the energy transition cannot replicate the same injustices as the fossil fuel economy. Instead, this transition must prioritise ecological well-being and community-owned renewable energy projects that are rooted in democratic governance and local empowerment.
“The era of fossil fuels has been defined by corporate greed, environmental destruction, Indigenous and human rights violations, and the denial of communities’ right to clean, affordable energy,” said Osprey Orielle Lake, Founder, Executive Director at Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network.
“As the climate crisis accelerates and governments regress on their climate commitments, frontline communities are showing the world what a just and regenerative future looks like – one rooted in equity, democracy, Indigenous and human rights, and community-led regenerative energy solutions. We have a narrow window to act and accelerate efforts for a Just Transition. COP30 must be a turning point to phase out fossil fuels and take action toward a just energy system that serves people and planet,” added Lake.
Case studies from the report explore principles and on-the-ground lessons that can inform a rights-based, environmentally sustainable, community-led energy transition. For instance, in Spain, a member-owned energy cooperative began providing renewable energy to its community following the 2008 economic crisis and frustrations over corporate control of energy access. In Ladakh, India, where the Himalayas make it challenging for villages to access outdated energy infrastructure, off-grid and decentralised solar solutions, as well as microgrids, are now a reliable source of energy for many remote villages.
The report closes with a call for action: “Communities across the world recognise that a transition away from fossil fuels is not only urgent but also inevitable, with many taking it upon themselves to implement socially and environmentally just solutions. Looking forward, governments, businesses, and civil society can work together to scale effective and lasting solutions, creating just pathways for economic transformation that do not perpetuate past and present injustices, but instead build a just, equitable, and inclusive future for all.”
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemical Company on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, inaugurated a Joint Technical Committee (JTC) aimed at advancing local content implementation during the operational phase of the 650,000 barrels per day refinery plant.
Executive Secretary NCDMB, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, presenting the certificate of the Nigerian Content Downstream Operator of the Year Award won by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemical Company at the inaugural Champions of Nigerian Content Awards to President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, on Tuesday
The inauguration ceremony, which took place at the Dangote Free Trade Zone, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, marks a pivotal moment in fostering strategic collaboration between both institutions and is a significant move to reinforce local content development in the oil and gas sector.
The ceremony presided over by the Executive Secretary of the Board,Felix Omatsola Ogbe, and the Group Vice President, Oil and Gas, Dangote Group, Chief Edwin Devakumar, featured the formal sign-off of the Committee’s Terms of Reference (ToR), a guided tour of the refinery, other critical facilities, and the official commencement of the JTC’s responsibilities.
The visit also featured the presentation of the certificate of the Nigerian Content Downstream Operator of the Year Award won by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemical Company at the inaugural Champions of Nigerian Content Awards held recently in May. The Executive Secretary NCDMB made the presentation to the President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who expressed delight at the recognition, noting that he would display the certificate proudly at his office.
Ogbe congratulated the Dangote Group on the successful development and commissioning of the largest single train refinery in the world, as well as petrochemical and fertiliser plants, describing the projects as a “historic milestone” not only for Nigeria but for the entire continent. He emphasised that the Dangote Refinery stands as a testament to the success of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010 and the transformative potential of Nigerian-led industrial projects.
“At an optimal daily production capacity of 650,000 barrels, this refinery will significantly enhance Nigeria’s energy security and contribute to the supply of refined petroleum products across West Africa,” the Executive Secretary stated. “Nigerians, have to own the plant, we have to make sure that the plant works well. We have to secure it, we have to maintain it.”
NCDMB, he said, would continue to collaborate with Dangote Petroleum Refinery, while highlighting the need to ensure more value retention in the sector, as mandated by the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act (NOGICD) 2010.
He demanded compliance with Sections 32 and 33 of the NOGICD Act, with particular reference to local manpower utilization and requirements for NCDMB’s approval prior to the engagement of expatriates.
“The NOGICD Act stipulates that no expatriate can be employed in any organization in the oil and gas industry without the prior approval of the NCDMB. We will work with you. We have to protect jobs for Nigerians,” he said, while commending the company for training and employing Nigerian engineers.
“This collaboration must ensure qualified Nigerians are given opportunities across all operational roles. It is critical to job creation, skills development, and national capacity building in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he added.
The NCDMB boss also urged Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals to support its initiative aimed at developing oil and gas industrial parks across the country to foster local content and manufacturing in the oil and gas sector.
He explained that the Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks Scheme (NOGaPS) seeks to create an enabling environment for Small and Medium Enterprises in the sector. NOGaPS was conceived by the Board to develop facilities close to oil fields where manufacturing of oil and gas components, as well as research and development, can be carried out.
“We would like Dangote to support one of our major activities, which is the oil and gas industrial parks scheme. The parks are aimed at creating an enabling environment for SMEs in the industry to do fabrication, among others, and create more jobs for Nigerians,” Ogbe said.
In his welcome address, Chief Edwin Devakumar highlighted that the Dangote refinery project and NCDMB have been working together, promoting local content development during the construction stages of the project.
“We can’t say we have achieved everything, but there is opportunity to do more,” he said.
“We are grateful to the NCDMB for all their support and advice. As entrepreneurs, we are trying to optimise costs. It is a Nigerian company; it is also an entrepreneur-driven company. As a Nigerian company, the focus will be on Nigerian content. As an entrepreneur-driven company, it will be cost-focused.
He underscored the long-standing commitment of the Dangote Group to national development and capacity building, remarking that the Group’s vision is to grow Nigeria’s industrial landscape.
The high point of the visit was the inauguration of the Committee’s members. The Committee is tasked with ensuring the implementation of local content in refinery operations. Its core objectives include promoting the use of Nigerian skilled manpower, services, and locally sourced materials in compliance with Section 3 of the NOGICD Act. They will also support Dangote Refinery in aligning its operational procedures with the Act’s requirements.
In his acceptance remarks, Director of Corporate Services at NCDMB and chair of the Committee, Mr. Abdulmalik Halilu, expressed gratitude to the leadership of both organizations. He reiterated the Committee’s dedication to upholding the highest standards of local content enforcement and fostering measurable outcomes that will benefit the Nigerian economy.
African officials and policymakers have urged members of the African Union (AU) to invest more in weather and climate information services to be better prepared for climate shocks.
Moses Vilakati, AU commissioner for agriculture, rural development, blue economy and sustainable environment
The call was made at the joint forum of the Intra-ACP (African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries) Climate Services and Related Applications Programme (ClimSA) as well as the Space for Early Warning in Africa (SEWA) at Windhoek, the capital of Namibia.
Moses Vilakati, AU commissioner for agriculture, rural development, blue economy and sustainable environment, said at the event that investing in climate services has a strong cost-benefit ratio, with potential returns far outweighing the initial investment.
The commissioner said African farmers, weather organisations, scientists, and policymakers require access to climate information held by weather prediction stations worldwide, enabling them to obtain timely, reliable, and user-tailored information.
According to the commissioner, the information could be obtained from national, regional, and multilateral agencies working on weather information and data analysis.
“Climate change is right at our doorstep. There are climate resources that we urgently need such as better satellite data services, to better protect our resources.
Jonas Sheelongo, deputy executive director of Namibia’s Transport Department at the Ministry of Works and Transport says “We need to act through better and targeted strategies,”.
He noted that accelerating access to weather data strengthens national meteorological and hydrological services.
This involves modernising observation networks, empowering early warning systems, and building capacity at every level, from regional centers to rural communities.
“Africa stands at the front line of the climate crisis, but it also stands at the forefront of opportunity.
“Therefore, the theme of this event ‘Accelerating Access to Climate and Weather Services for Resilient African Economies and Communities’ is not just a call to action; it is a continental imperative,” he added.
Top policymakers from Africa, as well as representatives from the Southern African Development Community and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, gathered in Windhoek for the forum.
The forum, which is scheduled from June 23 to June 27, will discuss measures to improve access to climate services.
