Nigeria’s climate diplomacy got a double boost yesterday at London Climate Action Week, with Rt. Hon. Sir Sam Onuigbo is leading high-level conversations on politics and investment.
*1. Reframing climate politics at Mansion House*
Onuigbo joined global leaders as a panelist at E3G’s “State of Climate Politics” event held at Mansion House. His focus: _“Reframing climate action in the face of divided politics.”_
He shared lessons from building consensus around Nigeria’s Climate Change Act 2021 — the law now guiding the country’s net-zero plans and carbon budgeting. He argued that even when multilateralism is “under attack by current geopolitics,” the path forward is to focus on what matters and continue building a broad political consensus.
He shared the stage with: Agnes Dasewicz, CIO, Global Energy Alliance; Jennie King, Non-Resident Fellow at ISD & Center for Climate and Security; Barbara Buffaloe, Mayor of Columbia, Missouri; Joanne Yawitch, Head of JET PMU; and Kate Hampton, CEO, The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation.
*2. Unlocking green money for Nigeria at NCIS*
Later that evening, Onuigbo convened the Nigeria Climate Investment Summit, NCIS, alongside GLOBE Legislators and SOStainability. The summit was billed as London Climate Action Week’s flagship event to catalyze climate finance into Nigeria.
The room was packed with heavyweights: Deputy Speaker of the House of Reps Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu; Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Enugu State SSG Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, representing Gov. Peter Mbah; Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the UK Ambassador Amin Dalhatu; UN-SE4All CEO Damilola Ogunbiyi; Climate Investment Funds CEO Dr. Tariye Gbadegesin; NDC Partnership Global Director Pablo Vieira; and NEDC MD/CEO Mohammad Goni Alkali, represented by Chief Frank Owhor.
The message was clear: Nigeria is open for green investment. Speakers highlighted opportunities in renewables, carbon markets, sustainable cities, and energy transition — all aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s push for climate finance and innovation.
The summit ended with a major announcement from Gov. Sanwo-Olu: Lagos will host a Lagos Climate Action Week in partnership with GLOBE Legislators, SOStainability, and the London Climate Action Week conveners. The goal is to bring climate finance conversations closer to Nigerian innovators, startups, and businesses.
Onuigbo called NCIS “a beginning,” saying major plans are already in motion to support innovators and drive action on the ground.
Yesterday London heard two things from Nigeria: we know how to build consensus at home, and we’re ready to turn that consensus into investable projects. From the politics panel at Mansion House to the deal room at NCIS, the pitch was the same — Nigeria’s climate story is shifting from promises to projects.
With Lagos Climate Action Week now on the calendar, the next stage moves from London back to Nigeria.
