Northwest Nigeria seeks ₦20bn climate fund and youth training

The Presidency has unveiled the North West Climate Fund, aiming to secure ₦20 billion over the next four years to address environmental challenges such as flooding, drought, and migration in Northwest Nigeria. The initiative was announced during the inaugural Northwest Climate Summit held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The strategy is built on three primary pillars: a regional climate marketplace, a climate academy, and the climate fund itself. The marketplace is designed to allow state and local governments to showcase climate programs to attract partnerships from international development agencies and financial institutions. The climate academy aims to train 10,000 young people in the region on climate resilience and environmental sustainability.

The fund intends to mobilize grants, impact capital, and carbon finance to support climate resilience and women-led green enterprises. These resources will be channeled through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North-West) to facilitate interventions in renewable energy and other mitigation efforts.