Background

Nigeria’s ambition to achieve net-zero by 2060 requires a bold, sustainable economic development program and a rapid scale-up of clean energy solutions. Recent achievements have been recorded in the past five years, including updating its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), passage of the Climate Change Act, launch of the Nigeria Energy Transition Plan, and establishment of the National Council on Climate Change. Key initiatives, including the Nigeria Electrification Project and Presidential CNG Initiative, among others, have also been launched by the Government of Nigeria to demonstrate commitment.

As global geopolitics and dynamics on climate and energy transition evolve, Nigeria's role in the energy transition discourse as a major oil and gas player becomes crucial. The upcoming G20 summit and Nigeria's inclusion in BRICS, present opportunities for trade and investment, emphasizing the need for Nigeria to maintain its proactive stance on climate action while balancing development priorities.

The Event

Building on APRI – Africa Policy Research Institute’s work over the past year in providing support to the Nigerian Government and sector actors through credible evidence-based research to inform policies and activities on climate and energy transitions, APRI, in collaboration with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning (FMBEP), the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), and the Shehu Musa Yar’ Adua Foundation (SMYF), is convening a Global South Peer Learning Workshop that aims to facilitate discussions between key Nigerian government officials, private sector and civil society actors, with countries that have successfully designed and implemented Country Platforms for Climate Action, such as the Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs).

The output of the convening will also inform and support the mainstreaming of climate and just transition into the national economic planning and development priorities of the government, particularly feeding into the development of Nigeria’s National Development Plan (NDP 2026 – 2030), which is to be developed by the government this year. This will ensure alignment with Nigeria’s economic development priorities and climate agenda.

The event is supported by the Ford Foundation and the African Climate Foundation.

The Speakers

Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu
Speaker

Hon. Min. Budget & Economic Planning

Abdul Oladapo
Speaker

Infrastructure Finance Lead, UK Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility

Ahmad Damcida
Speaker

Chief Executive Officer, Folti Technologies

Amara Nwankpa
Speaker

Director, Partnerships and Development, Shehu Musa Yar'Adua Foundation.

Ayakha Melithafa
Speaker

Founder, Ayakha Melithafa Foundation.

Bankole Oloruntoba
Speaker

Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre

Bolaji Onalaja
Speaker

Special Adviser to the Honourable Minister of Budget and Economic Planning

Dipak Patel
Speaker

Climate Finance Senior Advisor, Presidential Climate Commission, South Africa

Dolapo Kukoyi
Speaker

Member, Special Taskforce on Climate Change Action, Agenda and Implementation

Dr Akinyemi Akinyugha
Speaker

Technical Advisor, Green Economy and Ecological Matters, Ekiti State Government

Dr Faniran Sanjo O
Speaker

Director, Social Development, FMBEP

Dr. Kwujeli Onyemachi Kenneth
Speaker

Director, Plans & Project, Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning

Dr. Olufunso Somorin
Speaker

Regional Principal Officer, African Development Bank

Dr. Saleh Bashayi Momale
Speaker

Development Geographer, Department of Geography, Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA)

Echezona Asuzu
Speaker

Principal Assistant General Secretary, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)

Edwin A. Edou
Speaker

Technical Specialist, Climate Change and Energy Policy, United Nations Development Programme, Vietnam

Emmanuel Obiagbo
Speaker

Executive Director, Statecraft Foundation

Eugene Itua
Speaker

Lead, Special Taskforce on Climate Change Action, Agenda and Implementation

Fatima Diallo
Speaker

Directrice exécutive, CRASDEC

Felix A. Okonkwo
Speaker

Director, Macroeconomic Department, Federal Min. of Budget & Economic Planning

Geoffrey Omedo, PhD
Speaker

Technical Specialist - Climate and Energy Finance, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Habiba Daggash
Speaker

Non-Resident Fellow, Africa Policy Research Institute

Happy Amos
Speaker

Managing Director, Roshan Renewable Technologies Ltd

Hoang Van Tam
Speaker

Deputy Head of Climate change and Green growth Office, The Ministry of Industry and Trade

Ibrahim Shelleng
Speaker

Senior Special Assistant to the President (Climate Finance & Stakeholder Engagement)

Joanne Yawitch
Speaker

Head, South Africa JET-P Project Management Unit

Lai Yahaya
Speaker

Visiting Fellow, Africa Policy Research Institute

Lateef Biobaku
Speaker

Team Lead - Gas, Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Energy

Engr. Lovelyn Okoye
Speaker

Senior Sustainability Manager Seven Up Bottling Company

Mike Imafidor
Speaker

Consultant, Africa Policy Research Institute

Muez Ali
Speaker

Research and Policy Associate at Earthna, Qatar Foundation

Nick Haslam
Speaker

Head of Climate Change and Nature, Adam Smith International

Olabanjo Alimi
Speaker

Divisional Head, Renewable Energy, Mobility & Tourism, Sterling Bank.

Olayemi Arowolo
Speaker

Senior Consultant, Nextier

Parselelo Kantai
Speaker

Editor, African Arguments, Kenya

Patrick Smith
Speaker

Editor, Africa Confidential

Peju Adebajo
Speaker

Independent Non-Executive Director, Wolseley, Ibstock PLC (FTSE 250)

Phan Duy Phú
Speaker

Deputy Head of the Hydropower Division, Department of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Vietnam

Prem Krishna
Speaker

Director for Power & New Business, Lagos Free Trade Zone

Putu Indy Gardian
Speaker

Energy Specialist, Indonesia JETP Secretariat

Ramla Khalidi
Speaker

Resident Representative & JETP Secretariat Lead United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Vietnam

Rashidat Sanusi
Speaker

Programme Officer, Yar Adua Foundation

Samba Fall
Speaker

Program Manager, ENDA Energie

Teni Majekodunmi
Speaker

Lead Climate Advisor, Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement (PACE)

Tijah Bolton-Akpan
Speaker

Executive Director and Co-founder, Policy Alert

Tione Mtalimanja
Speaker

Senior Investment Officer, Sub-Saharan Africa, Public Sector Clients Department, Region 1 (PSC1), Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)

Uchenna Mkparu
Speaker

Infrastructure Fund Manager & Chief Investment Officer, United Capital

Vitalis Emeka Obi
Speaker

Perm. Sec, Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning

Yusuf Umar
Speaker

Managing Director, Renewable Infrastructure Platform for Energy (RIPLE), FCT, Nigeria

Zira Quaghe
Speaker

Nigeria Country Manager, Africa Climate Foundation

Daniel Mueller
Speaker

Chief Operating Officer/Executive Director, InfraCredit

Richard Calland
Speaker

Director, Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, South Africa