Agora Policy, Others Hold Dialogue on Climate Change, Nigeria’s Devt 

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja 

As Nigeria grapples with the mounting challenges of changing climatic conditions, an independent and non- partisan think tank, Agora Policy, and its partners will Wednesday host key stakeholders to a policy dialogue designed to chart a sustainable pathway for the country.

Organised as part of the build-up to and preparation for COP28, the high-level event, with the theme, ‘Nigeria, Climate Change and the Green Economy’, will feature a policy-facing dissection of the risks and opportunities that climate change, the energy transition and the green economy pose to Nigeria.

It is organised in partnership with the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation, The Cable Newspapers, The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Clean Technology Hub, Centre for Climate Change and Development (CCCD), and Nature News.

The event will be held at the main auditorium of the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.

A statement issued by the organisers said the event will witness the public presentation of Agora Policy’s latest policy report, ‘Climate Change and Socio-economic Development in Nigeria’.

The policy report was produced with the support of the MacArthur Foundation, also the primary sponsor of the policy conversation. 

The report highlights the different channels through which adverse effects of climate change could worsen in Nigeria and further compound the country’s developmental challenges. 

It also points out the opportunities for Nigeria to foster rapid economic growth, diversify its energy sources, generate employment for its burgeoning youthful and urbanising populace and address pervasive poverty and inequality through an equitable energy transition.

The presentation of the report will be followed by a policy conversation among stakeholders critical to climate action and the operation of a green economy in the country. 

The panellists include the CEO, Sterling Bank, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman; Director-General, the National Council on Climate Change, Dr. Salisu Dahiru; Programme Officer, Ford Foundation, Mrs. Olufunke Baruwa, and Ms. Tengi George-Ikoli Senior Officer, the Natural Resource Governance Institute. 

The panel will be moderated by Mr. Amara Nwankpa, the Director of Public Policy Initiatives at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation. 

The panel will then be followed by an interactive session where key stakeholders will share diverse perspectives on what Nigeria needs to do to strengthen its resilience to climate change and its transition to a greener economy.