From June 24th to 26th, NGYouthSDGs Programmes Intern Michael Meduye had the privilege of participating in the second National Action Plan (NAP IV) Development Retreat hosted by the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Nigeria at the serene Lake Greenfield Hotel and Towers, Abuja.
As a representative of NGYouthSDGs, my focus was on ensuring that climate governance remains open, inclusive, and impactful for every Nigerian.
Why This Retreat Mattered
Since joining the OGP in 2016, Nigeria has implemented two National Action Plans (NAP I and II), while learning valuable lessons from the third (NAP III). This retreat was convened to build on those lessons, bringing together government leaders and civil society actors to co-create commitments that foster transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in governance.
At its core, the retreat aimed to:
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Review achievements and gaps from NAP III for prioritisation in NAP IV.
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Co-create actionable commitments aligned with Nigeria’s national priorities under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
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Strengthen monitoring, reporting, and evaluation mechanisms to ensure commitments translate into real outcomes for citizens.
Our Commitment to Climate Change Governance
Within the Climate Change Governance thematic group, our collective focus was clear: Strengthening the implementation of Nigeria’s Climate Change Act 2021 through transparency and multi-stakeholder participation.
The discussions unpacked the current barriers facing climate action in Nigeria:
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Weak coordination structures among Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
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Low public awareness and engagement in climate initiatives.
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Overlapping institutional mandates creating confusion.
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Weak climate financing mechanisms that hinder meaningful implementation.
We agreed that the National Climate Change Council (NCCC) must take the lead in driving effective implementation, with strong legislative backing and oversight from the National Assembly to ensure accountability across all sectors.
Key Outcomes and Thematic Group Commitments
By the end of the retreat, our group had drafted priority commitments that included:
- Strengthening coordination of climate actions nationally and sub-nationally-
- Clarifying institutional mandates within the Climate Change Act
- Establishing Citizens’ Climate Assemblies to deepen public participation
- Developing a National Climate Fund and a roadmap for carbon credit markets
- Creating a participatory, investment-ready Climate Projects Preparation Facility
- Designing accessible climate finance dashboards to track funding flows transparently
Planned Next Steps
To translate these commitments into reality, the planned activities include:
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Establishing an institutional review working group to assess and refine the Climate Change Act.
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Creating stakeholder engagement platforms to ensure no voice is left behind.
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Hosting national roundtables on carbon credit market development.
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Launching the Climate Projects Preparation Facility to unlock domestic and international finance.
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Conducting civil society-led audits to strengthen transparency and inclusivity in project pipelines.
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Developing national and subnational climate finance dashboards for public access.
Lessons I Took Away
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Inclusivity is non-negotiable – Co-creating commitments with diverse stakeholders builds credibility and public trust.
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Collaboration is critical – Government, civil society, private sector, and citizens must work hand-in-hand to achieve shared goals.
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Youth must lead – Young people have a critical role in advancing climate governance and keeping the OGP agenda alive and transformative.
Looking Ahead
This retreat reaffirmed my belief in the power of collective action and inclusive governance. Strengthening Nigeria’s climate governance systems requires decisive leadership from the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), robust legislative backing, and meaningful citizen participation. Only then can we build a future that is sustainable, transparent, and just for all.
