Lagos Nigeria, 7th October 2024 – Ahead of the 29th Conference of Parties (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan and the review of Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions, The Network of Youth for Sustainable Initiative (NGYouthSDGs) with support from the German Missions in Nigeria would convey youth civil society organisations, climate activists, policymakers, multilateral organisations, and private sector and other stakeholders to chart a path forward for Nigeria’s climate action priorities. The event tagged Nigeria Futures Summit slated for the 8th to 9th October 2024 in Abuja, Nigeria aims to highlight the critical role of young people in driving innovative solutions to addressing climate change and advocating for a sustainable future for present and future generations.
The Nigeria Futures Summit is part of a larger project called Empowering Youth Civil Society Organisations to Build Stronger Communities in Nigeria. The project has so far provided capacity building for 150 youth civil society organisations leveraging the train-the-trainer model. As well as supporting 300 young people to understand Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions and how they can take action towards implementation in their communities and states.
Key Objectives of the Summit:
● Showcase the achievements of youth CSOs in advancing climate action across Nigeria.
● Facilitate collaboration and knowledge-sharing among youth organisations and other stakeholders.
● Shape Nigeria’s climate action priorities ahead of COP 29, ensuring that youth voices are integrated into national policy framework and implementation.
● Advocate for the inclusion of youth leadership in decision-making processes, ensuring a sustainable and resilient future for Nigeria.
Joshua Alade, founder of NGYouthSDGs says “The Nigeria Futures Summit is a platform for young people who are providing climate education and adaption innovations but lack resources to share their successes, and identify common priorities ahead of COP 29.” “The project Empowering Youth Civil Society Organisations to Build Stronger Communities in Nigeria was developed because of the significant threat of climate change to Nigeria’s development and the need to listen to and empower young people to take action. We need the agency and leadership of youth to build a sustainable and equitable future for us.’
Annett Günther, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Nigeria and ECOWAS states “Climate action is one of the most pressing challenges of our time, and Nigeria’s youth are at the forefront of this vital cause. Their passion, creativity, and determination are key to driving sustainable solutions that can secure a better future for all. Germany is proud to support the young innovators and leaders in Nigeria as they take bold steps towards protecting our planet. Together, through strong partnerships and shared responsibility, we can tackle the climate crisis and build a sustainable future.”
This summit aims to strengthen the network of youth organisations working on sustainability and climate action and advocate for the inclusion of their voices in Nigeria’s national climate strategy. The Nigeria Futures Summit is an essential step towards ensuring that Nigeria’s climate policies are forward-looking, inclusive, and reflective of the aspirations of its young population.
For more information about the Nigeria Futures Summit and how to get involved, please visit climatevoices.ng or contact:
Opeyemi Ogundeji
Programmes Manager, NGYouthSDGs
Email: opeyemi@nigerianyouthsdgs.org
