By Chinedu Jude Nwasum, Communication Officer, CCCD AEFUNAI
Sustainable development and Climate policy experts and other critical stakeholders in sustainable development sectors from Nigeria and the United States will come together in a virtual event to discuss the role of private sector in the design and implementation of Africa’s NDCs and climate action.
The webinar entitled “the role of private sector in the design and implementation of Africa’s NDCs and climate action”, is being organised by the Centre for Climate Change and Development (CCCD), Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (AEFUNAI), Ebonyi State, in partnership with World Resources Institute (WRI) Washington DC. It will hold on Thursday, March 18th, 2021 at 4pm to 5.30pm West African Time (WAT).
The webinar is part of a project aimed at injecting independent critical analysis into, and increasing public engagement and awareness, in the revision process of Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) due for submission later this year.
The aim of the webinar, according to the Director of the Centre, Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, is for global experts to explore ways in which the private sector could play more active and “meaningful” roles in the design and implementation of African NDCs and climate action more broadly.
Commenting on the forthcoming webinar, the Director, CCCD AEFUNAI, Professor Chukwumerije says: I am looking forward to hosting top national and international experts to discuss different ways in which the private sector could play more active and “meaningful” roles in the design and implementation of African NDCs and climate action more broadly. “In assembling these highly respected, experienced and diverse panelists within Nigeria and across the world to share their thoughts on the private sector can participate meaningfully in the design and implementation of African NDCs and climate action, CCCD AEFUNAI is delivering on its mandate to serve as a major think tank for facilitating research, awareness creation and advocacy meaningful engagement of private sector and other critical stakeholders in the ongoing revision of the NDC in Nigeria. Also recommendations from the webinar would be documented and submitted to relevant government agencies for actions and implementations.
According to Professor Okereke, “The main presentation will draw from “the role of private sector in the design and implementation of Africa’s NDCs and climate action”, a commissioned short analytical piece by the Center for Climate Change and Development as part of the project on providing independent critical analysis and input into the revision process of Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) which is due for submission later this year.
The webinar will feature Dr. Eugene Itua, CEO, Natural Eco Capital, Bankole Olorutunba, CEO Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre, Gerlad Esambe, Senior Climate Change and Green Growth Officer at African Development Bank, Chief Mrs. Anita Nana Okuribido, Chairperson Women in Renewable Energy and Mmember WEOG Board of Trustees, Yamide Dagnet, Director Climate Negotiations at World Resources Institute Washington DC, Dr. Sunny Akpoyibo, Founder Asteven Ventures and Prof. Kenneth Amaeshi, Director of Scaling Business in African Consortium, University of Edinburgh United Kingdom as panelists while Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, Director, CCCD AEFUNAI, is the host and facilitator.
The webinar is part of the webinar series under “Promoting critical analysis of, and stakeholders’ engagement with the revision of Nigeria’s NDC,” a project being undertaken by the CCCD AEFUNAI, with support from the WRI.
The one-year initiative that commenced from July 2020 will, according to Project Coordinator, Professor Okereke, help to widen the horizon of the discourse and compliment the current government led NDC revision process.