By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja.
“Nigeria’s Climate Change Efforts Under Spotlight at NEST 2025 Conference”
The Nigerian Environmental Study and Action Team (NEST) held its 2025 conference, focusing on the theme “From NASPA to Climate Change Act: Mapping a Pathway towards 2030 for Sustainable Development in Nigeria.” The conference brought together experts from government, civil society, and academia to discuss Nigeria’s progress in implementing climate change policies.
Responding to Standard-Times Nigeria, Prof. Chinedu Nwajiuba stated of the conference Policy Frameworks: “Nigeria has developed various policies and documents, including the National Adaptation Strategy and Plan of Action (NASPA) and the Climate Change Act. However, the challenge lies in translating these policies into actionable steps.
Knowledge Sharing: The conference featured presentations from diverse stakeholders, including government officials, NGOs, and experts from the SAS Institute and the National Center for AI.
Mainstreaming Climate Change: There was a call to integrate climate change into the national curriculum at all levels, as well as to promote climate-resilient agriculture and extension services.
The conference aimed to:
– Share knowledge and experiences in addressing climate change
– Identify practical solutions for implementing climate change policies
– Encourage collaboration among stakeholders
– Develop a roadmap for sustainable development in Nigeria
Climate-Resilient Agriculture: There is a need to promote multiple cropping, irrigation, and extension services to build resilience in the agriculture sector.
Policy Implementation: Nigeria has a good track record of producing policy documents, but the challenge lies in implementing and mainstreaming these policies.
The conference sought to identify actionable steps for implementing climate change policies and promoting sustainable development in Nigeria. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, the conference aimed to develop a roadmap for addressing climate change challenges and achieving sustainable development goals.
A workshop themed “From NASPA-CCN to Climate Change Act 2021: Mapping a Pathway towards 2030 for Sustainable Development in Nigeria” has brought together experts from academia, industry, and government to discuss climate change mitigation strategies. Organized by the Study Action Team (SAT) and the Nigerian Environmental Study Action Team (NEST), the conference aims to evaluate progress made since the development of Nigeria’s Climate Change Policy (NASPA-CCN) in 2011 and chart a course for sustainable development by 2030.
– Assess achievements of NASPA-CCN since its inception
– Develop a roadmap for sustainable development by 2030
– Integrate local context into policy-making processes
– Align with international best practices
Professor Michael Okoro, a board member of SAT and NEST, emphasized the importance of stakeholder engagement in developing effective climate change policies. He noted that the workshop’s diverse participation would enrich the policy-making process and ensure that local contexts are considered.
The workshop’s message to the Nigerian government is to prioritize local context, engage more stakeholders, and align policies with international best practices. The Minister of Environment, represented by the Director of Climate Change, was present at the workshop and is expected to take note of the discussions and recommendations.
Prof. Nzegbide Emmanuel, NEST Board member said: “The workshop aims to contribute to Nigeria’s sustainable development goals and climate change mitigation efforts. By bringing together experts and stakeholders, the conference seeks to develop a roadmap for a low-carbon development economy and ensure that Nigeria’s policies are aligned with international best practices.
