Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Mr. Sunday Dare, says the plan to provide access to affordable energy to 300 million Africans by 2030 is doable.
Sunday Dare
Dare said this while speaking with State House correspondents on the sidelines of the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit, on Monday, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
“Access to affordable energy for 300 million people by 2030 is very ambitious, but it is also doable. And why is that? Because you have several sources beyond hydro; you have solar, wind, and the new green hydrogen.
“And then if you consider the enormous deposits of gas we have, it is time for Africa to come together to give access to affordable power to its people,” said the presidential aide.
He said Mission 300 was supported by donors like the World Bank, Rockefeller Foundation, the African Development Bank (AfDB), with funding, which would make it realisable.
According to him, the World Bank and AfDB are supporting the G5 Sahel Solar Power project with funding to the tune of $10 billion.
He said concerted efforts at Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit would dovetail into the financing needed to give access to affordable energy to 300 million people on the continent by 2030.
“Five years looks like really tight, but sometimes when you get the journey started, you can get that journey accelerated, and then you can get to the target.
“Nigeria is leveraging this platform to energise the sector and to show what the president is trying to do. We have the Siemens project that was initiated under the previous administration.
“We’ve seen how President Tunubu has come in with an accelerated phase of the Siemens initiative, moving it from 5,000 megawatts to a higher capacity,” said Dare.
He said Nigeria had a dynamic compact initiative that would help to push the Mission 300 agenda forward.
He said President Tinubu was focused on energy and had said at several times that no country could develop if it lacked the requisite energy.
“Now we’re moving to several other alternative sources, and I think that Nigeria is doing the right thing, and needs international funding and backing. I think this summit will unbundle that,” continued Dare.
He explained that part of the funding would be in the form of grants, soft loans with very low interest rates and capacity building.
“The experience and the capacity that the experts will bring and the training also matters.
“Right now on the top drawer of almost all African countries is the question of energy.
“How do we generate enough energy? And there are three key areas when it comes to energy provision for people in Africa: affordability, accessibility and sustainability,” said Dare.
He said these were also the pillars of the energy policy of President Tinubu.
Cloneshouse, a renowned international evaluation and research organisation that specialises in designing and implementing high-quality assessments of development activities, has shown an interest in partnering with the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Youth Initiative to strengthen the various government programmes targeted at empowering young people in Nigeria.
Participants in a group photo during the partnership meeting between Cloneshouse and the Office of the Special Assistant to the President on Youth Initiatives, held in Abuja
In December 2024, the government launched the Youth Activities Dashboard (YAD), a cutting-edge portal created to provide Nigerians with unparalleled access to information on government-led initiatives to promote citizens engagement and empower communities.
As part of the cooperation strategy, Cloneshouse has suggested several significant improvements to the dashboard, such as incorporating front-line Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities and automating reminders and notifications to streamline the data-gathering and submission procedures.
The body also recommended the enhancement of natural language processing (NLP) to rapidly analyse large amounts of data, extract critical insights, and provide comprehensive reports. It will also build the capacity of the special adviser’s office by providing essential skills and expertise in field monitoring, data analysis, and impact assessment, as well as contributing its knowledge to a newly formed steering committee to support this noble initiative.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cloneshouse, Oludotun Babayemi, said, “We commend the Office of the Special Adviser for this visionary initiative.”
According to him, with the help of technology and data-driven insights, the YAD can transform youth involvement and guarantee that government programmes successfully meet the needs and aspirations of young Nigerians.
In her reaction to the proposal, Dr. Titilope Gbadamosi, Special Adviser to the President on Youth Initiative, praised the dashboard as a treasured instrument for encouraging citizen participation in government projects.
“Beyond its role as a monitoring tool, the Youth Activities Dashboard serves as a valuable resource for young Nigerians, fostering greater transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement in national development,” she stated.
Cloneshouse work with governments, non-governmental organisations, and international agencies to improve effectiveness and achieve sustainable development goals. This relationship with the Office of the Special Adviser illustrates a common commitment to uplifting Nigerian youth and establishing a brighter future for the nation.
A phone vibration drew my attention to an incoming message – a friend had sent a message with an attachment and a note reading, “This is so sad and needs to stop!” The message was followed by some crying emojis.
Mike Omuodo
Curious, I opened the attachment. It was a photo of some of the carnage in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – to be precise, the photo of corpses of those killed in the DRC’s never-ending war, piled like some wastes from a city garbage truck. My heart bled for the children and women of DRC, the main victims of this horrendous war!
The war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has killed over 6 million people over decades, stands as a stark reminder of the continent’s internal and external challenges. Despite Africa’s rich history, cultural diversity, and growing potential, the persistent violence in the DRC represents a failure of both African leadership and the international community to address a crisis that undermines the very notion of African unity, independence, and self-determination.
The DRC, endowed with an abundance of natural resources – diamonds, gold, copper, coltan – should be one of Africa’s most prosperous countries. Instead, it has become a battlefield where local militias, foreign corporations, and regional powers exploit its riches, leaving its people in poverty and suffering. This is a direct affront to the vision of African sovereignty, which seeks to ensure that African resources benefit Africans and not external actors or corrupt elites.
The inability of African nations to decisively intervene and resolve the conflict in the DRC highlights a painful reality: while African leaders have championed unity and cooperation through platforms like the African Union (AU), they have largely failed to protect one of their own from decades of exploitation and war. The silence and inaction of many African governments on the DRC crisis is a scorn to the idea of Pan-Africanism, which promises solidarity and collective action in the face of injustice.
The war in the DRC is also a reflection of how foreign interests continue to meddle in African affairs, undermining Africa’s sovereignty. Since colonial times, external powers have exploited the DRC for its natural resources, leaving the country in a state of perpetual conflict. Today, multinational corporations and foreign governments continue to benefit from the illegal extraction of the DRC’s minerals, funding armed groups and prolonging instability.
African leaders have a moral and political obligation to assert Africa’s control over its own resources and territory. Allowing foreign actors to dictate the fate of one of the continent’s richest nations not only diminishes the sovereignty of the DRC but also weakens the entire continent’s ability to defend its economic and political interests.
Failed Governance
At the heart of the DRC crisis is the failure of governance. While external actors have played a significant role in the conflict, internal divisions, corruption, and weak leadership within the DRC have exacerbated the situation. Successive governments have struggled to maintain control over vast portions of the country, allowing warlords and militias to fill the power vacuum.
However, the broader failure lies in the inability of African leaders to come together and address these internal issues through diplomatic pressure, peace-building, and robust intervention. Instead, some regional powers have been accused of further destabilising the country by supporting rebel groups and exploiting the chaos for their own gains. This lack of leadership not only prolongs the suffering of millions of Congolese but also erodes trust in Africa’s ability to solve its own problems.
Strategic Imperative
This war shouldn’t be seen merely as Congo’s problem but as a moral and strategic imperative for the entire African continent. The ongoing conflict undermines Africa’s collective goals of peace, security, and economic development. It destabilizes a region that is critical to the future of Africa, limits economic growth, and diverts attention from pressing continental issues such as poverty alleviation, infrastructure development, and healthcare.
Allowing the DRC to remain in a state of war or even degenerate further into the abyss reflects poorly on the African Union and regional organisations like the East African Community and Southern African Development Community (SADC), which have the capacity to mediate and intervene. If African leaders do not act now to stop the violence and build sustainable peace, it will signal a failure to live up to the founding principles of these organisations and African independence itself.
Reclaiming sovereignty
This war is not just a humanitarian catastrophe; it is a direct challenge to Africa’s ability to assert control over its own destiny. The conflict has exposed the fragility of African sovereignty and the vulnerability of the continent’s vast resources to external exploitation. To truly live up to the promise of a united, independent, and prosperous Africa, African leaders must rise to the occasion, reclaim the DRC’s sovereignty, and bring an end to this senseless war.
Inaction or passive diplomacy will only deepen the wounds and prolong the suffering. It’s time for Africa to lead by example, assert its political will, and save the DRC from becoming a permanent scar on the continent’s legacy. The war in the DRC cannot be allowed to continue as a scorn upon Africa’s sovereignty.
Mike Omuodo (mike.omuodo@mediafast.co.ke) isa pan-African Public Relations and Communications expert based in Nairobi, Kenya
The Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP) is hosting a High-Level Panel session in collaboration with the Africa Climate Foundation (ACF) during the foremost Nigeria Climate Change Forum in Abuja. The High-level Panel session is part of SPP’s commitment to put the subnational actors at the frontiers of climate change action in Nigeria and Africa.
The Nigeria Climate Change Forum and SPP High-Level Panel hold at the Abuja Transcorp Hilton Hotel
The Nigeria Climate Change Forum, hosted by the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology to catalyse transformative action that will address climate change challenges in Nigeria and across Africa, provides opportunity for Ministries, Government Authorities, Chief Executives, senior decision-makers, industry leaders, development partners and climate activists from various sector to share ideas and explore multilateral avenues to catalyse national development.
The SPP Team, led by Professor Chukwumerije Okere, in its attempt to galvanise awareness for climate action at sub-national levels in Nigeria and ensure improved climate change action and resilience among the state actors, published the first-of-its-kind mapping report on “Climate Impacts, Policies, and Actions at the Subnational Level in Nigeria” in collaboration with the Department of Climate Change of the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Nigeria’s Governors Forum (NGF) in November 2023.
In 2024, the SPP through collaboration with the Department of Climate Change, launched the first-ever climate governance performance ranking report titled: “Climate Governance Performance Rating and Ranking of Nigeria’s 36 States”. The report, which rated all the 36 states on five thematic areas (Climate Institutions and Governance, Climate Policy and Action Plan, Climate Project Implementation, Climate Budget and finance and Online Visibility), had Lagos, Gombe, and Ebonyi as the top three performing states with Borno and Ekiti states sharing the 4th position.
The SPP High-Level Panel session will feature Professor Sam C. Ugwu, Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Enugu State; Ms Aishat Barde, Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Taraba State; Yakubu Kolo, Commissioner for Environment, Niger State; Chief Mrs Tosin Aluko-Ajisafe, Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Ekiti State; and Dr Mrs. Iniobong Abiola-Awe, Director, Department for Climate Change, Federal Ministry of Environment, to discuss “Subnational (State-Level) Climate Interventions in Nigeria”.
The High-Level Panel session, to be moderated by Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, the SPP President, will provide an opportunity for the respective Commissioners to highlight their state-level climate action and network with national and international stakeholders with the hope of attracting climate investment to their respective states.
Other distinguished leaders expected at the Climate Change Forum are Senator Kashim Shettima, Vice President of Nigeria; Wale Edun, Minister for Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy; Balarabe Abbas Lawal, Minister for Environment; and Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Minister for Budget and Economic Planning, among other dignitaries.
It is expected that the event will inspire collaborative action between government, private sector and international organisations towards driving sustainable development and achieving net-zero emissions in Africa and SPP is positioned as frontier NGO to provide the platform for subnational government to advance their climate action for sustainable development.
The Nigeria Climate Change Forum holds from January 28 to 29, 2025 at the Abuja Transcorp Hilton Hotel. The SPP High-Level Panel will hold on January 29, 2025, at the same venue.
By Ugochukwu Uzuegbu (Communication Specialist, SPP) and Gboyega Olorunfemi (Project Lead, SPP)
The Enugu State Government says it is targeting 792,000 jobs in renewable energy, waste management and reforestation sectors by 2060.
Secretary to the Enugu State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia
Secretary to State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, disclosed this to newsmen at the end of the State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting in Enugu, the state capital, on Sunday, January 26, 2025.
He said that the State Government had approved the Enugu State Climate Policy and Action Plan (ESCPAP), making it the first subnational government in the country to adopt a long-term climate strategy that incorporates emissions modelling, microenergy and audits.
Onyia also disclosed that the EXCO also approved the Enugu State Off-Grid Electrification Policy Strategy Plan to expand electricity access to unserved and underserved communities.
This, he said, leveraged the distributed renewable energy solutions to drive economic growth and improve public service delivery.
“This action plan will help us enhance economic growth and are very important for us in job creation.
“We are looking at a situation where we facilitate the creation of 792,000 jobs in renewable energy, waste management, and reforestation by 2060.
“In terms of sustainable economic growth, ESCPAP is projected to drive a 25-fold increase in the state’s Gross Domestic Product by 2060 through investments in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and green technology.
“On energy transition, the state, going by the policy, targets 80 per cent renewable energy usage by 2060, with a 60 per cent emissions reduction in the transport sector and a robust afforestation plan to enhance carbon sequestration,” Onyia said.
He further said that ESCPAP underscored Gov. Peter Mbah’s administration’s commitment to balancing economic transformation, environmental sustainability, innovation, inclusiveness, and climate resilience.
The SSG said the move ensured that the key sectors, such as agriculture, energy, and natural resources were climate-resilient and future-proofed against environmental challenges.
According to Onyia, ESCPAP represents a pioneering effort to facilitate clean energy development, stimulate job creation, and foster green technology advancements.
“We do recall that Enugu State had started this policy design in the past eight months, and finally, after the surveys and after crunching the numbers from various instruments we used, we have come up with a policy and action plan.
“The comprehensive policy and action plan include the setting up of an ESCPAP Implementation Committee, comprising representatives from the government, private sector, civil society, and international donor organisations.
“This is to ensure effective execution of the policy’s goals as well as the introduction of a climate change curriculum in Enugu’s Smart Green Schools to equip the future generations with knowledge and skills in green innovation,” he said.
Also, Onyia said the Off-Grid Policy, “is designed to complement the Enugu State Electrification Policy that was passed in 2023 as the Enugu Electricity Law.
“This provides a framework that would catalyse private sector investment, enhance socio-economic growth, and improve the overall quality of life of Enugu people.
“This policy also recognises the importance of distributed renewable energy solutions, such as solar, wind, hydro, and biomass. These will be the key drivers for electrification in the rural and peri-urban areas.”
“All these, according to the government, are in sync with the Mbah administration’s drive to grow Enugu’s economy to a $30 billion economy by 2031,” the SSG said.
Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Mr. Richard Pheelangwah, has stated that water, sanitation, and food security are essential to Nigeria’s development.
Prof. Joseph Utsev, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation
Pheelangwah made this remark at the 31st regular meeting of the National Council on Water Resources and Sanitation (NCWR&S) in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Monday, January 27, 2025.
The theme of the meeting is “Water and Food Security: Challenges and Opportunities in the Face of Daunting Climate Change”.
The permanent secretary, who also serves as the Council’s Chairman, noted that water, sanitation, and food security have a direct impact on public health, economic productivity, and environmental sustainability.
He urged the National Technical Committee, which is holding a five-day session, to identify challenges and propose solutions through the memoranda to be presented.
“The theme of this year’s Council meeting was carefully chosen to reflect the critical importance of water, food security, and the negative impacts of climate change on our people.
“This theme is timely, as it could not have come at a better moment.
“It is important that we continue to meet because what we know today may not hold tomorrow.
“Life keeps evolving, and we must evolve with it; otherwise, what we considered relevant yesterday becomes obsolete today,” he said.
He further noted that President Bola Tinubu’s recent declaration of a state of emergency on food security necessitates action from relevant ministries and authorities to ensure adequate irrigation and year-round farmland cultivation for food production.
The permanent secretary also commended the Akwa Ibom State Government and development partners for their unwavering support of the ministry’s efforts.
In her remarks, Mrs. Emah Udonsek, Permanent Secretary of the Akwa Ibom Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, emphasised that water and food security are fundamental to human survival, economic development, and environmental sustainability.
She noted the timeliness of the theme, noting its focus on sustainable water resource management and food security for Nigerians.
“The theme also underscores the urgent need for action, innovative solutions, and collaborative efforts to address the challenges posed by climate change,” she said.
Udonsek added that the future of food security and water availability is closely tied to the nation’s ability to adapt to climate change.
Development partners and key stakeholders delivered goodwill messages during the opening session of the technical meeting.
The Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN) has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria and all relevant agencies to address critical concerns before any resumption of oil operations in Ogoniland, as currently proposed by the authorities.
Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN) Executive Director, Barrister Chima Williams
Stating the organisation’s demands in an interview with newsmen, Executive Director of EDEN, Chima Williams, pointed out that Ogoni communities have suffered environmental degradation, livelihood losses, and violations of their fundamental rights for decades. He stated that the Federal Government must engage the Ogoni people in meaningful dialogue to determine clear entry points and expectations for all stakeholders.
He also demanded for mutual expectations, involving commitments from the government, investing oil companies, and the Ogoni people themselves, adding that a detailed framework of operational guidelines, standards, and environmental protections must be developed and agreed upon by the Ogoni people, environmental experts, and relevant stakeholders.
William’s demands on behalf of EDEN also includes prioritising a blueprint that safeguards the environment, citizens’ livelihoods, and future generations, while calling for the establishment of strong enforcement mechanisms to ensure accountability for any infractions by oil companies. He further charged the Federal Government to provide a clear, transparent process for holding oil companies accountable for environmental damages and community violations.
“Investing oil companies must provide an environmental bond – funds set aside in advance to address any potential mishaps or operational damages, regardless of the cause. The funds must be accessible to regulatory bodies to ensure prompt remediation and compensation without delays.
“Local content laws must mandate that Ogoni professionals are given priority for all technical and non-technical roles in the oil operations. Agreements must ensure the protection of livelihoods for those relying on the land for survival, with clear provisions for compensation and sustainable alternatives.”
Williams added that oil operations in Ogoniland must not resume until these preconditions are met, as he reiterated EDEN’s position on the restoration of Ogoniland’s environment, the protection of its people’s rights, and their active involvement in decision-making are non-negotiable, as anything short of this will be resisted.
He charged the Ogoni people to remain united and vigilant, rejecting divide-and-rule tactics often employed by corporations, as community cohesion is essential to ensure that the demands made are respected and implemented.
Some health stakeholders say noise pollution is a significant, yet overlooked public health issue.
Speaking in an interview on Sunday, January 26, 2025, in Abuja, the stakeholders called for action to mitigate its harmful effects on physical and mental well-being.
Noise pollution
They highlighted the serious health risks associated with prolonged exposure to high noisle levels.
Dr Adewale Senu, a public health physician, said that exposure to noise above 70 decibels could lead to hearing impairment, hypertension, stress, and cardiovascular problems.
Senu said that noise disrupted sleep, with chronic deprivation linked to diabetes, obesity, and weakened immunity.
“People living near busy roads, airports, and industrial areas face heightened risks. This is not just about discomfort; it is a serious health crisis,.
“According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), noise exposure during sleep can increase the risk of heart disease by five per cent to 10 per cent,” he said.
For residents like Ms Chaliya Bindul, who lives near a panel beater workshop in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the consequences are already evident.
“I struggle with constant headaches and fatigue. My children also find it hard to concentrate on their studies because of the incessant noise,” she said.
Environmental health experts have stressed the importance of collective efforts to tackle the issue.
Mr. Iniobong Okoh, an environmental expert, proposed solutions like stricter industrial noise regulations, better urban planning with acoustic considerations, and public education on noise reduction strategies.
Okoh urged the government to enforce noise control measures and promote soundproofing in both public and private spaces.
“Noise pollution goes beyond inconvenience, it requires urgent policy intervention to protect public health.
“For individuals, simple actions such as using earplugs, reducing generator use, and observing quiet hours can help minimise exposure,” he said.
A 2024 report by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) identified Lagos and Port Harcourt as the most noise-polluted cities in the country.
The report said that daytime noise levels in these cities often reached 85 decibels, far exceeding the WHO’s recommended residential limit of 55 decibels.
Studies further highlight the dangers of excessive noise. Research in Port Harcourt identifies major contributors such as traffic, industrial activities, and generators, all of which elevate noise levels in the city.
Also, a study on traffic noise in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State found average noise levels of 71.7 decibels, well above the WHO’s recommended daytime standard for residential areas.
These findings reinforced the urgent need for targeted noise control measures in urban centres to safeguard public health.
President/Chairman, Board of Directors, African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has called for urgent action on electrification for Africa to drive its development.
AfDB President, Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina
He made the call while speaking on “Taking Africa’s Energy Agenda to the Next Level” at the ongoing Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit on Monday in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
“I want to begin by thanking His Excellency President Zulu Aznani for hosting us in this beautiful country of Tanzania and everyone here for joining this global mission to ensure Africa has the electricity it needs to power itself,” Adesina said.
He highlighted Africa’s pressing energy challenges, stating, “This continent loses three to four per cent of its GDP annually due to the lack of electricity.
“Over 571 million Africans remain without access to electricity, accounting for 83 per cent of the global population living without it. This must change.”
Adesina underscored the need for collaboration among governments, private sector players, civil society, and development partners to address Africa’s energy crisis.
“This isn’t about us as institutions; it’s about the millions of people without access to electricity. We must act for them. This summit must be action-driven,” he stressed.
He urged African governments to lead by example, calling for increased investments in power generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure.
“Countries must prioritise last-mile connectivity, reform utilities, and reduce technical and financial losses. Regional power-sharing agreements are also crucial,” he added.
The Mission 300 initiative, a partnership spearheaded by the African Development Bank, the World Bank, and key global stakeholders, aims to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.
As part of this mission, energy compacts are being signed with 12 countries to ensure access for 145 million people.
Adesina highlighted the importance of accountability, stating, “This is not a talking summit. It’s about delivering megawatts of power, not megawatts of talk.”
On private sector role and investment climate, Adesina acknowledged the private sector’s critical role in achieving energy goals, emphasising the importance of creating a conducive regulatory environment.
“Private investors need predictable and transparent policies. The cost of capital in Africa is three to four times higher than in other regions, which must be addressed.
“The summit also underscores the broader implications of electrification for economic growth, job creation, and human dignity.
“Electricity is a human right. It powers education, healthcare, digitisation, and economic opportunities. Without it, we cannot develop,” Adesina said.
The AfDB boss reaffirmed the commitment of the bank and its partners, urging all stakeholders to work together to make Mission 300 a success.
“We cannot develop in the dark. Together, we will light up and power Africa,” he said.
Also, Mr Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group, while highlighting progress made since the initiative’s launch in 2024, noted that regulatory reforms and geospatial mapping were helping to streamline efforts.
He added that the bank had financed partnerships, including a 30 billion dollar to 40 billion dollar commitment, aimed to transform energy access across the continent.
Meanwhile, Dr Rajiv Shah, President of the Rockefeller Foundation, commended the summit’s African-led approach.
He stated, “This effort must be African-led at every level. With over 30 heads of state committing to energy compacts and private sector engagement, this is an extraordinary moment.”
“An extraordinary gratitude and thanks to both Ajay and Akin for the leadership, they and their institutions, all the work that the teams have shown to bring us to this point.
“You’re right. The world should ask itself, does this summit in Tanzania matter? Will it deliver something that has a chance to be wildly successful? Frankly, at a time when a lot of global politics have moved toward a more inward and populist focus around our planet.
“I am extremely confident that the answer to that question is yes, and there are three core reasons why. The first is we all know, everyone in this room knows, in order to have any chance of being successful, this effort has to be African-led at absolutely every level.”
The summit aims to support the implementation of the Continental Master Plan and the African Single Electricity, while the 12 countries are expected to pledge reforms in low-cost power generation, regional energy integration, increased energy access, enabling private investment, and utility strengthening.
Tagged “Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit” and described as “a landmark” convention, hosting African Heads of State and Government, the approach is to work toward increased infrastructure investment and comprehensive policy reforms across the entire electricity supply chain, to transform lives and improve livelihoods and communities across the continent.
Under the arrangement, over 1,000 participants from across Africa and beyond have assured the world to make the all-important event a crucial milestone engagement in the continent’s journey toward universal energy access.
The process, according to the organisers, will also further consolidate the progress already made towards widespread electrification towards achieving the projected 300 million beneficiaries.
Though, it is claimed that about 600 million people lack access to electricity, representing 83 per cent of global energy deficit, the organisers view convergence of the stakeholders toward electrification of the affected regions affected as a step in the right direction.
The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has called for grants to support climate change initiatives, combat illegal wildlife trafficking and support conservation efforts.
Dr. Joseph Onoja
Dr Joseph Onoja, Director-General of the NCF, made the call in an interview in Abuja on Monday, January 27, 2025.
He emphasised the importance of securing grants rather than loans to fund climate initiatives.
“Our lives depend on the environment. It is essential for us to care for it, so it can, in turn, care for us.”
Onoja noted the challenges associated with loans, saying high interest rates place a huge burden on developing countries.
He further stressed the need for Nigeria to be accountable for the grants it receives by ensuring their proper utilisation for development.
Onoja urged greater stakeholder involvement in wildlife conservation, noting the need for awareness to curb illegal wildlife trafficking.
