By Joycelyn Ellakeche Adah
Participants at the 2025 Africa Climate Forum (ACF) in Abuja have issued a call for decisive and collective measures aimed at building a truly resilient Africa.
The delegates stressed that the goal is to create a continent capable not only of withstanding mounting climate pressures but of thriving despite them.
Speaking exclusively to Persecondnews at the opening of the Forum in Abuja, Dr. George Nwangwu, Director General of the Global Centre for Law, Business and Economy (GCLBE), described the ACF as a pivotal platform in the global drive for climate action.
He noted that since its inception in 2023, the ACF has consistently stood as a symbol of hope, innovation, and partnership across the continent.
“When we started, the goal was to set the tone for conversations ahead of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,” he explained.
“That is why we organize this forum annually, just before the COP meetings.”
Nwangwu added that the Forum has made significant progress by harmonizing Africa’s climate agenda, fostering entrepreneurship, and attracting investments that create new opportunities across the continent.
“Each year, we host exhibitions known as the Marketplace, which give businesses a platform to showcase their innovations.
“Many have gone on to form valuable partnerships and collaborations from these events,” he said.
Also speaking to PSN, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olajumoke Oduwole, reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to climate change, energy transition, and climate justice as key national priorities.
She noted that the Tinubu administration has made progress across critical sectors including solid minerals, clean energy, oil and gas, aviation, and agriculture by integrating climate considerations into national policies and development strategies.
“As a ministry that cuts across multiple sectors, we’re ensuring that these discussions move beyond policy rhetoric to become concrete investments,” Oduwole said.
“We are seeing growing opportunities in carbon credits, renewable energy, sustainability, data centers, technology, and artificial intelligence.”
Representing the Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Michael Evenso, the keynote speaker highlighted that this year’s theme”Bolder, Greener, and Better Steps: Closing Transition Gaps in Africa” is not just aspirational but an urgent necessity.
He noted that following the outcomes of COP29 in Baku where countries agreed on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) and activated Article 6 of the Paris Agreement the global climate framework is evolving rapidly.
For Africa, he said, this progress must translate into real development outcomes, not just policy statements.
“Like much of the Global South, Africa faces three major challenges: a heavy dependence on commodities that demands economic diversification; an informal market that must shift toward low carbon, high energy growth models; and increasing loss and damage impacts that require urgent adaptation,” he said.
These realities, he added, underscore the need for a just, inclusive, and sustainable transition one that leaves no sector and no community behind.
The High Commissioner of Kenya to Nigeria, Mr. Isaac Parashina, commended the ACF team for sustaining what he described as a vital and transformative initiative.
“The Forum has evolved beyond a gathering it’s now a strategic platform where policymakers, scholars, and industry leaders deliberate on Africa’s future and explore practical ways to turn vision into action,” he said.
“Climate change is no longer just an environmental concern it’s a matter of security, governance, and survival. The droughts that divide our lands, the floods that destroy homes and farms, and the rising seas that threaten our coasts are realities we can no longer ignore.”
Parashina pointed out that Africa does not lack vision but requires stronger alignment between its ambitions, institutions, and resources to achieve real impact.
“The question is no longer what Africa needs, but what it will now choose to do differently to deliver lasting progress.”
Since its inception in 2023, the Africa Climate Forum has evolved into a leading platform for climate dialogue and action championing innovation, collaboration, and shared responsibility.
Entering its third edition, the Forum’s focus on decisive climate action carries an unprecedented urgency.
This commitment is championed by the Global Centre for Law, Business, and Economy (GCLBE), which, alongside its fellows, partners, and stakeholders, reaffirms its dedication to advancing sustainable growth and meaningful progress across Africa.
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