Northwest climate summit targets investment, jobs, green growth — Presidency
…FG to launch Climate Fund, digital investment marketplace …initiative to tackle desertification, unemployment, insecurity The Presidency on Wednesday said the forthcoming North-West Climate Summit 2026 is designed to reposition the
...FG to launch Climate Fund, digital investment marketplace
...initiative to tackle desertification, unemployment, insecurity
The Presidency on Wednesday said the forthcoming North-West Climate Summit 2026 is designed to reposition the region from a climate-vulnerable zone to a hub for investment, job creation and green economic growth.
The summit, scheduled for August 4, 2026, is a presidential-level initiative convened by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North West). It is expected to unlock bankable opportunities in climate-resilient agriculture, renewable energy, water security, and youth-driven enterprises.
Briefing journalists at the State House in Abuja, the Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement (North West), Abdullahi Tanko Yakasai, said the initiative marks a strategic shift from policy dialogue to execution, emphasising investment-driven outcomes.
He noted that environmental challenges in the region, including desertification, water scarcity and declining agricultural productivity, present opportunities for sustainable economic expansion.
“The North West faces significant environmental challenges, but these also create opportunities for sustainable growth and investment. This summit represents a strategic shift from climate vulnerability to climate investment,” Tanko-Yakasai said.
According to him, the summit aims to mobilise financing, align policies with implementation and deliver solutions that will directly impact communities across the seven North-West states of Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara.
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Tanko-Yakasai disclosed that the initiative is being driven by Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with a focus on aligning national climate priorities with sub-national implementation.
He announced plans to launch a North West Climate Fund to mobilise capital for climate-related projects, alongside a Climate Investment Marketplace, a digital platform designed to connect investors with viable projects across the region.
“This is not just a summit; it is a platform for execution. We are creating pathways for investors to identify opportunities and partner on projects that will transform the region,” he added.
In a related development, the Managing Director of the North West Development Commission (NWDC), Prof. Shehu Abdullahi Ma’aji, outlined the commission’s strategy to tackle environmental degradation, unemployment and insecurity through climate-focused interventions.
Ma’aji said the commission, established in July 2024, operates across the seven North-West states, with an estimated population of over 65 million people, noting that its mandate spans the environment, agriculture, infrastructure, education, health, and youth development.
He identified desertification, land degradation, water scarcity, and food insecurity as key challenges confronting the region, revealing that more than 7 million youth remain unemployed.
“We are not just looking at empowerment; we are focusing on engagement. Our goal is to turn our youth into productive assets and climate stewards,” he said.
He disclosed that the commission plans to engage at least 5,000 youths in the first phase of a climate initiative centred on planting and maintaining economic trees to combat desertification, improve soil quality, and enhance livelihoods.
“These are not just ordinary trees; they are economic trees that will benefit communities and contribute to a healthier ecosystem,” Ma’aji added, noting that the programme would also support community-based security monitoring.
Also speaking, the Lead Consultant of the summit, Dr Mea Boykins, said the platform is structured to bridge the gap between policy formulation and implementation by delivering practical, bankable climate solutions that can attract both local and international financing.
“My goal is to connect Nigeria’s climate priorities with local capital and partners. This summit is not just about discussions, but about delivering real, actionable and investable solutions,” she said.
Boykins added that the initiative would position the North-West as a destination for global climate finance, with investment opportunities spanning energy, agriculture and water systems.
“We are presenting bankable opportunities across key sectors. This is about restoring land, securing water and powering the future,” she said.
Stakeholders also underscored the importance of grassroots participation, noting that environmental sustainability requires collaboration among government, private-sector players, development partners, and local communities, in line with global frameworks such as the Kyoto Protocol.
As part of efforts to drive inclusive growth, they highlighted a “waste-to-wealth” initiative aimed at formalising informal waste collection systems, creating jobs and promoting recycling.
Under the programme, we will organise, equip, and connect local waste collectors with partners who convert waste into fertiliser, energy, and other products, reducing pollution while creating economic value.
Stakeholders also stressed the role of awareness campaigns, town hall engagements and community participation, including plans to plant 7,000 trees to combat desertification.
