Nigeria just scored a major win on the global climate stage. Former House of Reps member Rt. Hon. Sir Sam Onuigbo is set to become the first African president of GLOBE International during London Climate Action Week 2026 in the UK.
The handover will happen as lawmakers, investors, and climate leaders gather in London from June 20-28. Onuigbo will officially take the gavel from Argentine deputy Juan Carlos Villalonga at GLOBE’s 35th anniversary reception in the UK Parliament on June 24.
1. *Climate Change Act legacy*: Onuigbo sponsored Nigeria’s Climate Change Act 2021. That law is now the country’s blueprint for net-zero planning and carbon budgeting. GLOBE cited it as proof of Nigeria’s “leadership in climate governance.”
2. *Green money*: As convener, Onuigbo will open the inaugural Nigeria Climate Investment Summit at Mansion House, City of London, June 23-26. Goal: pitch Nigeria’s renewable energy, carbon credits, and sustainable cities projects to global investors.
3. *Africa’s seat*: He’s also overseeing GLOBE’s HQ move to Nairobi, Kenya. For the first time, the organization founded by Al Gore and John Kerry in 1991 will run from Africa.
Onuigbo’s first speech as president comes under the theme: _“Building Political Resilience and Public Consensus for Climate Action at a Time of Severe Domestic and Geopolitical Challenges.”_
Talks will focus on 5 fronts: financing net-zero economies, climate resilience, ocean/nature restoration, energy transition tech, and getting citizens on board.
The UK Parliament event, hosted by ex-UK Climate Minister Graham Stuart MP, will pull together MPs, ministers, and business leaders from Buckingham Palace to the Globe Theatre. London Climate Action Week beat 700+ events last year, and 2026 is billed as even bigger.
Since leaving the House of Reps, he’s stayed front and center on climate advocacy. Wins include:
– Named among Business Insider’s Top 30 Global Climate Action Leaders in 2023
– National Assembly Most Valuable Parliamentarian Hall of Fame, 2019-2023
– Currently GLOBE Legislators Vice-President for Africa
A Nigerian lawmaker will now steer the world’s biggest network of climate lawmakers. For Abuja, it’s validation that the Climate Change Act wasn’t just paper. For Africa, it’s a direct line to climate finance and policy tables in London, New York, and Nairobi.
Onuigbo put it simply ahead of the summit: “Nigeria is ready to move from climate promises to climate projects.”
