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London, United Kingdom — Governor Peter Mbah has presented Enugu State as one of Africa’s emerging destinations for climate investment, calling on global investors, development finance institutions, philanthropies, and climate funds to partner with the state in delivering a new generation of green growth and climate-resilient development projects.

Speaking during the Nigeria Climate Investment Showcase held on the sidelines of London Climate Action Week (LCAW), Governor Mbah said Enugu was deliberately positioning itself to become a leading subnational destination for climate finance and sustainable investment in Africa.

Represented at the event by the and other senior officials of the state’s climate leadership team led by Secretary to the State Government Professor Chidiebere Onyia, the governor highlighted the significant institutional reforms already undertaken by the administration to create an enabling environment for climate investment.

“Climate finance increasingly flows to projects that are large enough to matter, politically supported, institutionally credible, and capable of generating measurable economic and social benefits. Enugu is building exactly these conditions,” the governor stated.

London Climate Action Week, one of the world’s largest independent climate events, brings together governments, investors, businesses, cities, and civil society leaders to accelerate climate action and mobilize investment for the transition to low-carbon and climate-resilient development.

Governor Mbah noted that Enugu has moved aggressively in recent years to establish the institutional foundations required to attract international climate finance. These include the enactment of a state climate law, the creation of a dedicated Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the development of the Enugu State Climate Change Policy and Action Plan, investments in clean transport systems, urban greening initiatives, and the construction of smart green schools powered by rooftop solar systems.

The governor identified five major investment opportunities that the state is currently prioritising.

The first is an integrated waste-to-energy programme designed to tackle urban waste challenges while reducing methane emissions, generating employment, improving public health, and producing energy and compressed natural gas for the state’s growing clean transport sector. The programme is expected to benefit from growing international interest in methane reduction projects and carbon markets.

The second priority is the transition toward clean urban mobility. Building on ongoing investments in electric buses and planned compressed natural gas transportation systems, the state is seeking partnerships to expand CNG bus fleets, charging infrastructure, e-tricycles, integrated transport systems, and sustainable mobility corridors.

Governor Mbah also highlighted opportunities in climate-smart agriculture and rural resilience, noting that such investments simultaneously address food security, climate adaptation, livelihoods, and youth and women’s empowerment.

Other priority areas include green industrial and climate-resilient economic zones featuring solar-powered industrial parks, sustainable manufacturing, green logistics, and climate-resilient infrastructure that align with the administration’s economic transformation agenda. The governor further emphasised the importance of clean cooking initiatives, which offer significant health, environmental, and social benefits, particularly for women and vulnerable households.

To strengthen investor confidence, the state has also developed a Climate Investment Plan that identifies priority projects, financing requirements, implementation responsibilities, and potential sources of funding. In addition, plans are underway to establish a Climate Finance and Carbon Markets Unit to support project preparation, business case development, investor engagement, and climate finance tracking. The state is also strengthening its climate data, monitoring, reporting, and verification systems to meet international standards.

Observers at the London event noted that subnational governments are increasingly becoming important actors in global climate action, with investors showing growing interest in states and cities that can demonstrate political commitment, institutional capacity, and bankable project pipelines.

For Enugu, Governor Mbah said the climate agenda is not simply about environmental protection but about economic transformation, job creation, energy access, improved public health, food security, and building resilience for future generations.

“As we build the future of Enugu, climate action and economic development will go hand in hand. We are inviting global partners to work with us in delivering projects that improve lives, create jobs, and build a prosperous and sustainable future for our people.”

The event was attended by global climate investors, project developers, policy makers, and technology companies who all declared keen interest to partner with Enugu to drive sustainable economic transformation in Enugu.

Other members of the delegation from Enugu State include Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, SPA on Climate Policy and Sustainable Development and Ms Sandra Gerge, SPA on Revenue.

The participation of Enugu State at London Climate Action Week further reinforces the administration’s commitment to positioning the state as a leading destination for climate finance, green investment, and sustainable development in Nigeria and across Africa.

The climate crisis has often been described as a race against time, but it is also a race against ignorance. Too many people still lack a clear understanding of the causes of climate change, its real-life consequences, and the practical solutions available to slow its impact. Since climate change is fundamentally a human-induced crisis, addressing it requires changes in human behaviour, and behavioural change begins with awareness.

In recognition of this, The Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP) developed a Climate Education Manual, a long-term resource, designed for schools to equip teachers and students with the knowledge and tools to understand climate science and promote sustainable living. The manual was co-created with students, teachers and education stakeholders, and officially unveiled in March 2025, with support from the University of Bristol, UK. The goal was not merely to publish a document, but to institutionalize climate literacy among the younger generation.
Following the unveiling of the climate education manual, SPP commenced a series of climate education engagements, taking the message directly to students through school outreaches, interactive learning sessions, and tree-planting exercises that connect climate knowledge with practical environmental stewardship. SPP has reached over 20, 000 students across 70 schools

In recognition of the critical role that teachers play in shaping young minds, and the need to ensure that accurate climate knowledge is effectively passed on to future generations, SPP expanded the initiative through capacity-building programmes for teachers. Working in partnership with education authorities, the organisation equipped teachers with the knowledge and resources needed to serve as climate education multipliers, integrating climate education into classroom learning

In Abuja, SPP worked with the Secondary Education Board to begin the training of teachers across the Federal Capital Territory, starting with schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). Also, SPP entered into a strategic partnership with DCR Ambassadors to train teachers, with a focus on the North East, beginning with Adamawa as a pilot state. The programme was a six-month climate education effort for junior and senior secondary school teachers in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States respectively.

By 2026, this capacity building model for educators had matured into deeper state-level engagements. In Enugu State, SPP worked with the Office of the First Lady and the Office of the Senior Adviser to the Governor on Climate Policy and Sustainable Development to train 40 Climate Champions on the use of the Climate Education Manual, with support from UNICEF, Enugu Field Office. These climate Champions are expected to drive a pilot climate education campaign in selected secondary schools across Enugu State.

This capacity-building campaign was also extended to young Nigerians serving under the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). In Abuja, SPP took the climate education campaign to the NYSC orientation camp in Kubwa, presenting climate change not as a distant policy issue but as a practical challenge that young Nigerians will inherit and help solve. Beyond introducing Corps Members to the fundamentals of climate change, the engagement highlighted the growing importance of green skills in an evolving global economy. Over 4,000 youth corpers and officials were exposed to emerging opportunities in sustainability and the broader green economy, helping them to see climate action not only as a responsibility, but also as a pathway for innovation, entrepreneurship, and employment.

Most recently, the organisation has focused on sustainability through school-based green clubs. In Abuja, SPP collaborated with Army Day Secondary School, Mogadishu Cantonment, to strengthen Green Environment Clubs as part of the World Environment Day 2026 outreach. The programme increased students’ interest, attended by over 100 participants, led to the establishment of a new club, and helped refine the club’s action areas around composting, recycling, open-burning reduction, and afforestation. The engagement opened further opportunities for the students, including an invitation to participate in the Nigeria Youth Climate Summit.

The real significance of SPP’s climate education campaign lies not only in the number of people reached, but in the structures and systems it is helping to build for the future. A trained teacher carries climate knowledge into the classroom year after year. A climate champion takes the message into communities. A green club turns awareness into everyday practice, and together, they demonstrate that climate education is most effective when it moves beyond information-sharing to become embedded in the institutions and people that shape society for sustainable development.

In a climate conversation often dominated by finance, technology and infrastructure, SPP’s Climate Education Initiative is a reminder that lasting change also depends on educating and creating awareness to engage people, especially teens and children, to understand the climate and environmental challenge and be equipped to respond to it. SPP is determined to carry on with these far-reaching climate education campaign across Nigeria to build awareness and inspire action among its teeming young population for sustainable development.

Timothy Ogenyi,
Senior Policy Analyst, SPP

Ugochukwu Uzuegbu,
Communications Specialist, SPP

In commemoration of World Environment Day 2026, students from 20 selected schools across Enugu and Nsukka in Enugu State, Southeast Nigeria, participated in a series of tree-planting and environmental awareness activities designed to promote climate action, environmental sustainability, and responsible stewardship of natural resources.

The students are the current beneficiaries of the pilot phase of the ongoing climate education campaign in Enugu State titled “Rooted in Action Growing Green Generation,” an initiative spearheaded by the Office of the Senior Adviser to the Governor of Enugu State on Climate Policy and Sustainable Development in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady of Enugu State, the Enugu State Ministry of Education and Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, with funding support from UNICEF Enugu Field Office.

The campaign aligns with the 2026 World Environment Day theme, “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For our Future” which focuses on urgent climate action, emphasising the role of nature-based solutions and healthy ecosystems in climate resilience.

The programme also reflects the UNFCCC’s Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) agenda, which seeks to empower youth engagement through climate education and public participation, inspiring young people to adopt environmentally responsible behaviours and become advocates for sustainable practices within their schools, homes, and communities.

A major highlight of the event was the planting of ornamental and economic trees within the school premises, which will serve as a practical demonstration of climate action and a constant reminder of the importance of environmental restoration for sustainable growth and economic development.

Trees play a critical role in combating climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, improving air quality, conserving biodiversity, preventing soil erosion, regulating local temperatures, and enhancing the resilience of communities to environmental shocks.

Speaking on the significance of the initiative, Prof. Chukwumerije Okereke, Senior Adviser to the Enugu State Governor on Climate Policy and Sustainable Development, emphasised that environmental sustainability remains a key component of the development agenda of the administration of Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah.

Represented by Mr. Elochukwu Anieze, Prof. Okereke said, “Empowering young people with climate knowledge and engaging them in practical environmental activities is one of the most effective ways to build a generation that is environmentally conscious, innovative, and committed to sustainable development. Our goal is to nurture young champions who will not only understand the urgency of climate action but also lead it in their schools, communities, and beyond.”

The Office of the First Lady of Enugu State’s collaboration further reaffirmed its commitment to initiatives that promote environmental protection, youth development, and community resilience.

The programme highlighted the importance of nurturing environmental responsibility among students, recognising them as future leaders and critical stakeholders in the fight against climate change.

The Enugu State Ministry of Environment and Climate Change also underscored the importance of collective action in addressing environmental challenges in its remark.

The Ministry encouraged students to serve as ambassadors of environmental sustainability by promoting proper waste management, reducing plastic use, protecting natural resources, and supporting tree-planting efforts in their communities.

During the programme, students participated in interactive sessions on climate change, environmental conservation, sustainable lifestyles, and the importance of protecting ecosystems.

The conversations reinforced the message that every individual has a role to play in safeguarding the environment, and that small actions, when multiplied across communities, can lead to significant and lasting impact.

The organisers called for sustained engagement beyond World Environment Day, stressing that environmental protection is a continuous responsibility that requires the collective efforts of government, development partners, educational institutions, communities, and citizens.

The Federal Ministry of Environment, through its Department of Climate Change (DCC), in partnership with the Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP), has officially launched data collection for the third edition of the Subnational Climate Governance Performance Ranking (SCGPRR 3.0).

The launch follows a series of preparatory engagements, including a review of the enhanced methodology by the Quality Expert Review Team on May 19, 2026, and a training session for State Climate Change Desk Officers and Directors on May 21, 2026. The questionnaire was formally released on May 26, 2026, with submissions due by July 7, 2026.

Speaking at the launch, Dr. Iniobong Abiola-Awe, Director of the Department of Climate Change, described the ranking as one of the Ministry’s flagship initiatives for strengthening climate governance and accountability across Nigeria’s states.

“As Nigeria pursues its climate goals, the importance of ensuring that climate action is measurable, transparent, and impactful cannot be overstated, and SCGPRR remains a vital tool in achieving these objectives.”

Prof. Chukwumerije Okereke, President of SPP, thanked State Climate Change Desk Officers, Directors, and members of the Quality Expert Review Team for their continued commitment to the ranking process.

He noted that states that submit their questionnaires ahead of schedule will receive special recognition, as early submission reflects institutional readiness – one of the key indicators assessed by the ranking.

However, he stressed that the overriding priority remains the collection and processing of high-quality data that accurately reflects the state of climate governance across Nigeria.

“The success of this ranking depends on the collective efforts of everyone involved, and I want to sincerely thank the Subnational Climate Change Officers, Directors, and the Quality Expert Review Team for their dedication. As we begin the third edition, our goal is not simply to collect data, but to generate evidence that can drive better decision-making and stronger climate action. That is why the quality, integrity, and reliability of the data must remain our highest priority.”

The SCGPRR was established to address a critical accountability gap by creating a systematic and evidence-based framework for assessing climate governance at the subnational level. The ranking helps states track progress, identify weaknesses, and strengthen the implementation of climate policies and programmes.

The first edition laid the foundation and produced what has become one of the most credible climate governance assessment initiatives in Nigeria and across Africa. While the inaugural ranking challenged many state governments, it demonstrated the power of evidence to reveal realities that rhetoric alone could not.

By the second edition, the impact was becoming increasingly visible. More states actively engaged with the process, seeking to understand and improve their performance. The findings encouraged several states to develop climate policies and action plans, while others initiated the domestication of the National Climate Change Act. Civil society organisations leveraged the rankings to strengthen advocacy, and journalists increasingly cited the findings in their reporting.

As a result, the SCGPRR evolved beyond a measurement exercise into a co-created accountability mechanism that not only evaluates climate governance but also helps strengthen it through targeted capacity building, peer learning, and technical support for subnational actors.

Building on the gains of previous editions, SCGPRR 3.0 will place greater emphasis on implementation, institutional strengthening, capacity development, and the use of evidence to drive action. Several methodological enhancements have also been introduced to improve the robustness and policy relevance of the ranking.

By strengthening accountability, improving climate data quality, building institutional capacity, and focusing more directly on implementation, SCGPRR 3.0 is expected to play an even greater role in supporting Nigeria’s climate ambitions and accelerating effective climate action across the states.