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The ongoing effort to stem the negative impact of climate change presents Nigeria with unique opportunities to boost its economy and improve electricity supply through renewable sources, expert on climate change issues, Professor Chukwumerije Okereke has said.

Okereke who is the Director, Centre for Climate Change and Development, CCCD, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, stated this in Abuja at the award ceremony for the winners of the second National Essay Competition titled ‘Climate Change and Nigeria’s Economic Development: A letter to Mr. Incoming President’.

Prof. Okereke said the essays written by the three finalists would be sent to whoever emerges Nigeria’s President in the general elections.

He noted that climate change was not just an environmental issue but a national emergency that should be paid serious attention to by all Nigerians.

According to him, “Many people misunderstand climate change as a small environmental problem somewhere. We are saying that climate change is a national economic development issue. It has to do with agriculture. It has to do with migration. It has to do with security. It has to do with water resources. It has to do with energy. It has to do with urban planning. It has to do with transportation.

“Nigeria is losing according to the statistics and research done by the UK Government up to $100 billion a year to climate change as at 2020. And that number may go up to $250 billion per year by 2050 if Nigeria fails to take drastic action to tackle the problem. And the youth is the future.

“They’re our leaders. You can see how massive their engagement in the current election campaign is. So we thought that it’s important to bring the youth together, to animate them, to equip them to empower them, to sensitise them so that they can champion the cause of climate change and the action to solve the problem in Nigeria.

“As to whether the right is going to get to the President, absolutely. We will make sure that we email these three winning essays to whoever becomes the next president”.

Prof. Okereke explained that the government needs to create more awareness among Nigerians on the impact of climate change and also set out a national plan to tackle the issues.

He said that the national plan has to be implemented to the letter and also ensure that institutions charged with implementing the policies are staffed with competent people to drive the process.

“The good news is that if we can act on climate change in a sensible and wise and intelligent manner, we can actually turn it from being a threat to being an opportunity. For example, in the area of renewable energy, we have just about 4,000 megawatts of energy that we are generating for a country of about 200 million people. South Africa generates about 40 gigawatts. And yet, Nigeria is a land of sun, we can harvest all the energy we need to meet our power and electricity from the sun.

“Second, we can begin to utilise what we call green agriculture to be able to deal with the issue of desertification, desert encroachment, the degradation of the Lake Chad lecture and begin to create opportunity for women and men to go into green agriculture, which will build resilience to climate change and also lead to a lot of job opportunities.

“We should stop the flaring of our gas in the Niger Delta, because its contribution is about 55 million metric tonnes of CO2 per annum to Nigeria. And yet if we harness those gases we can use it to power modular cooking and energy in the rural areas of the country”, he added.

Earlier, the Director General, National Council on Climate Change, Dr. Salisu Dahiru warned that the impact of climate change would affect all Nigerians regardless of position or status in life.

Represented by the Director, Energy, Transportation and Infrastructure, Dr. Michael Ivenso, he urged Nigerian youths, especially young women to take greater interest in matters of climate change for the good of the country.

The Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP), GCA Capital Partners and Climate Advisers Network (Berlin) have listed 11 key measures for Nigeria to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060.

Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, an internationally recorgnised scholar, stated this at a news conference on Monday, March 20, 2023, in Abuja.

Okereke, who is Director, SPP, said that the 11 measures were adopted out of a long list of 35 measures identified in key policy documents across priority sectors: Agriculture, Forestry and Land Use, Industry and Housing, Oil & Gas, Power, Transport, Waste and Water.

Okereke listed the top 11 measures to include: on- and Off-grid generation of renewable electricity, elimination of Diesel and Gasoline generators by 2030, and Planting of 300 million trees by 2030.

Others included End gas flaring by 2030, reduce wood cooking and introduce clean cooking to 30 million households, Construction of 300,000 green home annually for 5 years, shift to Bus Rapid Transport with enforcement of emission standards.

He also added Transition to properly designed engineered landfill with state-of-the-art gas collection, enhanced irrigation powered by renewable energy, increase energy efficiency by reducing transmission losses, and restoration of landscape scale and recharge of Lake Chad Basin.

According to him, a rough calculation indicates that these measures could result in emission reduction of about 174.01 million metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2030, similar to fossil emissions of Algeria or Iraq in 2021.

The scholar said that the aim of the project was to present the steps and decisions in a format that is accessible to a wider public through communication materials that can stimulate and inform a wider public debate involving civil society, policymakers and more importantly, the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) as it embarks on its full implementation of its mandate.

“Taken together, the Top 11 measures are best-suited to private and blended types of investment, which is essential in the current circumstances and are expected to signal an observable shift in the course of decision making for massive economic and social development while putting Nigeria on the path of achieving her net-zero ambition by 2060,” Okereke said.

He said that Nigeria at the brink of multiple climate crisis submitted an ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), presented its Energy Transition Plan and subsequently passed the Climate Change Act into law in 2021.

He said that few months later, Nigeria launched its Long-Term Vision to 2050 (LTV2050) that is now expected to appraise the development of its Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy.

He added that the significance of these steps was to galvanise effective action towards meeting its commitment made at the COP26 in Glasgow to achieve net-zero target by 2060.

Okereke said that the project embarked by SPP, and others analysed decisions and actions that, if taken in the next five years, would underpin a socio-economic transformation required to enable Nigeria to meet the government’s 2060 net-zero objective announced at COP26 in Glasgow.

According to him, the context of the project with regards to benefits and successful implementation of each measure were assessed based on four criteria, listed to include:

1. Economic diversification, (youth) job creation and poverty reduction;
2. Security, social safeguards, and gender equality;
3. Food security & public and environmental health; and,
4. Sustainable and affordable power and transport to justify the diversity and sustainability of the measures.

The Nigeria government committed to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2060 during the UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP26) which took place in Glasgow, Scotland in 2021. This report outlines 11 measures covering multiple sectors: Power, Agriculture and Forestry, Waste, Oil and Gas, Industry and Housing, Transport and Water; and actions to be taken in the next 5 years to put Nigeria on the path to achieving net zero. The report indicated that these measures could result in socio-economic benefits, emission reduction, and gradual shift towards a more circular economy.

Nigeria’s Top 10 Net Zero and Economic Development Measures

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The Centre for Climate Change and Development (CCCD), Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu Alike (AE-FUNAI), Ebonyi State, has announced and awarded the top three winners of the just concluded second national essay competition titled “Climate Change and Nigeria’s Economic Development: A letter to my incoming President”.

The candidates, whose essays were adjudged the best after a thorough review and assessment by an independent panel of judges headed by urban planner and environmentalist, Mr. Michael Simire, received N200,000, N150,000 and N100,000 during an award ceremony event held in Abuja on Wednesady, February 15, 2023, and organised by the Centre in collaboration with the Sustainable Development Centre of the University of Abuja.

The winners, Israel Oghenefiro Orere, an undergraduate student of Petroleum Engineering at the University of Lagos, Lagos State; James Afomare Owan, an Engineering graduate; and Promise Okwuchukwu, an undergraduate of Law at University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, who emerged first, second and third best winners, respectively, were among the over 200 entries received by the Centre.

Speaking during the hybrid event, the Director, CCCD AE-FUNAI, Prof Chukwumerije Okereke, eulogised the participants in the essay content for submitting quality essays that encouraged him to opt for an event that would show the winners to both national and international audience.

Prof Okereke said that climate change is not just an environmental problem but a national economic development problem. He said the reason for the second national essay competition is to encourage Nigerian youths to be engaged with climate change and also necessary to alert the incoming President on the economic development implications of climate change for Nigeria and the need for urgent action to tackle the challenge.

He said the CCCD-AEFUNAI would continue to do it’s best to encourage the Nigerian youths to get involved in articulating and advancing action on climate change.

The Director General, National Council on Climate Change, Dr. Salisu Dahiru, said Nigeria has made several bold commitments on climate change led by President Muhammadu Buhari. According to Dr. Dahiru, the President desires to see Nigeria play its own role in tackling the menace of climate change.

He said he was delighted to see several young people in the audience, adding that the NCCC is an inclusive institution that desires to accommodate different voices including the youth, women and people of disability in tackling climate change.

The DG called the youth to engage on climate change and to engage with the council to pull all efforts together to ensure that climate change is tackled adequately in Nigeria.

Dahiru, represented by Michael Ivenso, who is the Head of the Directorate of Energy, Infrastructure and Transportation of the National Council on Climate Change Commission, also said that climate change is a national emergency that requires everybody to participate.

He thanked all of the youth present or participating and enjoined Nigerian youths to work together with the council to build effective responses to climate change.

Sponsor of the Climate Change Act, a member representing the Ikwuano/Umuahia North/South in the Federal House of Representatives and former Chairman, House Committee on Climate Change, Sam Onuigbo, said that there is strong interconnection between climate change and economic growth but also that climate change action represents an opportunity to build a prosperous sustainable green economy for the country.

Onuigbo said that the Nigerian youth is already championing a vote for climate change and the youth awareness is necessary to ensure that climate change remains on the agenda of the incoming administration. The lawmaker underscored the need to integrate climate change into the national education curriculum in schools.

Onuigbo, who was represented by Mr. Nnaemeka Oruh,   said that he is looking forward to continuously interacting with students and to tell them more about the role legislation can play in tackling climate change.

Also speaking at the event, Dr. Eugene Itua, who is the CEO of Natural Eco Capital, said that it is important to create awareness at all levels especially among the youths because climate change is also an inter-generational problem, one that affects the old, the young but also something that requires long term thinking.

Dr. Itua said that Nigeria is elaborating the long-term strategy which will inform Nigeria’s long-term development plan that is sustainable. He said it was a privilege to engage and interact with the youth, even as he enjoined the youths’ leaders to look for several opportunities in tackling the climate change such as climate innovation, climate investment and the opportunity to engage in international climate diplomacy.

Director, Department of Climate Change, Federal Ministry of Environment, Dr. Iniabong Abiola-Awe, said that she was glad to be part of the programme. Dr. Awe said that the youths have always been the target of the Ministry in terms of spreading the importance of action on climate change in the country.

She said that the DCC has already engaged with several youth bodies across the country and expressed the hope that the essay competition would further help to expand the engagement of Nigerian youths with regards to tackling the problem of climate change.

The Director, who was represented by Mr. Jonah Barde, expressed the confidence that the DCC would continue to engage with the youth and partner with them to find solutions to tackle climate change.

On his own part, the national youth leader of the Labour Party, Prince Kennedy Ahanuotu, said that he was thankful to President Muhammadu Buhari for starting to put Nigeria on the global map in terms of climate change action and promised that Mr. Peter Obi, the LP Presidential Candidate, would take all the efforts that already have been done on climate change forward.

He promised that letters written by the youth winners would form part of a youth charter of demand that will be presented to Mr. Peter Obi if he wins.

He enjoined the youth to go home to collect their permanent voters cards and fight for the future of Nigeria.

Prince Kennedy said it is impossible for any country to exist effectively without youth involvement in politics, and called on the youths to take their destinies into their hands to ensure that we find a better Nigeria.

In his welcome speech, the Vice-Chancellor, University of Abuja, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, expressed the readiness of the university management to engage in activities that will promote climate action in all its activities. The V.C noted that the young people play a vital role in ensuring that the effects of climate change is reduced through advocacy and awareness creation as well as engaging their communities in promoting climate action.

The VC, who was represented by the Director, Sustainable Development Centre, University of Abuja, Dr. Sabiu Bariki Sani, stated that his centre would continue to partner with organisations to ensure that Nigerian youths are properly integrated in the fight against the impact of climate change.

Reacting after receiving the prize, Mr. Israel Oghenefiro Orere, the best essayist, thanked the centre for the opportunity to participate in the essay competition which he described as timely owing to the visible effects of climate change in the country and need for the Nigerian youths to be at the fore front of engaging the government in advancing policies that will mitigate the climate change impact in the country.

Mr. Israel said he was overjoyed at the announcement that he was the winner of the essay contest, and humbled by the standing ovation he received.

“It was a rewarding moment for the passion I have for climate change related issues,” he said.

The award event ceremony, which took place at the Events  Hall, ASUU Researchers Chalets, University of Abuja Main Campus, was attended by the Director General National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Dr. Salisu Dahiru, represented by Mr. Michael Ivenso, the head of directorate Energy, Infrastructure and Transportation, NCCC; Mr. Olamide Fabguji, the Special Assistant to the President on Economic Matters; the Chief Executive Officer of Natural Eco Capital and the Facilitator, Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) and the regional coordinator, West Africa Capitals Coalition Hub, Dr. Eugene Itua; the Director of Department of Climate Change, Ministry of Environment, Dr. Iniobong Abiola Awe, represented by Mr. Jonah Barde; Samuel Onuigbo, the former chairman House Committee on Climate Change; Prince Kennedy Ahanotu, the National Youth Leader of the Labour Party; Mr. Aboulhamid Tahir Hamid, the CEO Global Environmental and Climate Conservatives Initiatives and the President of African Union Great Green Wall Youth Advisory Board; and Dr. Sabiu Bariki Sani, the Director Sustainable Development Centre, University of Abuja .

The Centre for Climate Change Development (CCCD) at Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu Alike Ikwo (AE-FUNAI), Ebonyi State, Nigeria, in collaboration with Sustainable Development Centre, University of Abuja, has concluded plans to announce the top three winners of the second essay competition on climate change recently organised by the Centre.

The second essay competition, titled “Climate Change and Nigeria’s Economic Development: A Letter to Mr. Incoming President”, was rolled out in a bid to engage young Nigerians in setting climate change agenda to whoever emerges the President of the country after the 2023 general election and to create massive awareness on climate change effects in the country.

The top three winners will be announced during a hybrid award ceremony event that will take place on Wednesday, February, 15, 2023, at Events Hall, ASUU Researchers Chalets, University of Abuja Main Campus.

Speaking on the forthcoming award event, the Director, Centre for Climate Change and Development, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, stated that he would be delighted to host an award ceremony where national and international audience and experts gather to witness the announcement of the top three winners of the recently organised second essay competition by the Centre.

He observed that the physical award event became necessary due to the quality of essays submitted by all the participants especially the top 10 shortlist and need to give wider publicity to the national and international audience and this, he added, can be achieved through an event organised to display and celebrate the excellent submissions from the contestants and to announce the top three winners to the global audience.

Prof. Okereke also noted that aside from giving the candidates national and international visibility, the hybrid event would serve as a medium for engaging the young people on climate discourse and also set a climate change agenda for the next President of Nigeria.

The event, which will feature a panel session for the youth leaders of the three main political parties, the All Progressive Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)and the Labour Party (LP) to engage the audience on the policies of their parties on climate change issues and what they intend to do if elected, has the Minister for Environment, Mohammed Hassan Abdullahi; the Director General, National Council on Climate Change, Dr. Salishu Dahiru; and the Director, Department of Climate Change, Federal Ministry of Environment, Dr. Iniobong Abiola-Awe, as special guests of honour, while Dr. Eugene Itua, the CEO ECO Natural Capital, and Sam Onuigbo, former Chairman, House of Representative Committee on Climate Change, as guests of honour.

The top three winners will be decided from a list of 10 shortlisted participants after a rigorous and tedious assessment of over 300 entries by a panel of 10 judges and they will go home with N200,000, N150,000 and N100,000 respectively.

Adenipekun Margaret, Obiorah Victor Chibuzor, Alidor, Jonah Bonaventure, Udu, Ugochi Favour, James Afomare Owan, Kokole John Akpotubebebo, Nwadike Obioha Samuel, Israel Oghenefejiro Orere, and Promise C. Okwuchukwu make of the list of top 10 shortlist.

It will be recalled that CCCD AE-FUNAI had on October 2022 launched its second essay competition entitled “Climate Change and Nigeria’s Economic Development: A Letter to Mr. Incoming President” which is geared towards increasing public awareness of, and youth engagement with climate change issues in Nigeria, and to  set climate change agenda for the incoming government to pursue climate change ambition and action towards achieving 2060 net zero target.

By Chinedu Jude Nwasum, Communications Officer, CCCD AE-FUNAI