Sam Onuigbo Becomes Patron, Climate & Sustainable Development Network Of Nigeria

Hon. Sam Onuigbo, a representative of the South East in the Board of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), has been unveiled as a patron of Climate and Sustainable Development network of Nigeria (CSDEVNET).

Speaking during his unveiling on Wednesday in Abuja, Hon. Onuigbo revealed that he became motivated to be in the front line for mainstreaming of climate change actions owing to it;s actions in his hometown, Obuohia, Obi-Ibere in Ikwuano LGA of Abia state which includes; gully erosion, and extinction of springs n his community.

Onuigbo who pioneered the climate change Act when he was representing Ikwuano-Umuahia Federal constituency, advocated that “every COP process should provide us with a chance to come back home and place another brick in our climate action edifice.”

The Conference of the Parties (COP) is an international climate summit to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Onuigbo thanked CSDEVNET for finding him worthy to b one of it’s patrons.

In his words;

“I consider this as one of the greatest honours of my life to be found worthy to be one of the patrons of this remarkable network— Climate & Sustainable Development Network of Nigeria (CSDevNet).

CSDevNet’s unparalleled efforts at bringing together about 300 organisations that are at the frontiers of championing climate action and sustainable development across all nooks and crannies of Nigeria reflects a well-thought out action plan anchored on sound principles.

One of the motivations for my commitment to climate action derives from my village— Obuohia Obi-Ibere, in Abia State— where I watched as I got older, climate change wipe out springs in the community, and further exacerbated the legendary gully erosion sites. Having witnessed all that, it was quite easy for me to pick up the climate change torch when at the GLOBE COP21 Legislators Summit at the French Parliament, we were urged to go back home and push for legislation and policies that will help ramp up climate action and realise the objectives of the Paris Agreement. That was the beginning of the journey to getting the Climate Change Act.”

Read the;

WELCOME REMARKS BY REP. SAM ONUIGBO FCIS, FNIM DURING THE POST-COP28 MULTI-STAKEHOLDERS CONSULTATIVE DIALOGUE ORGANISED BY CLIMATE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT NETWORK (CSDEVNET) WHICH HELD ON 17TH JANUARY, 2024.

I am delighted to be part of this all-important multi-stakeholder consultative dialogue which is a wonderful opportunity to critically analyse the outcomes of the just concluded COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and to maximise the opportunities to the benefit of our dear country, Nigeria, while helping us overcome the enormous impacts of climate change on our continent.

2. COP28 has come and gone with lots of pledges and proposed actions, but as Nigerians, what next?
3. Much more work is needed to deliver commitments and action that match the priorities of Nigeria and other emerging economies facing the full brunt of climate impacts. The commitments to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030 are crucial. This is the direction the market is already headed given the rapidly improving economics of renewable energy deployment. As a country with acute energy poverty, renewable energy can be our solution. Fortunately, we have enacted the Electricity Act 2023 thus liberalizing the sector and opening it up for investments in renewables leveraging on mini- and off-grids.
4. Another key decision from COP28 was the operationalization of the Loss and Damage fund. This is crucial. However, the commitments thus far do not match the billions already needed by communities across the globe to tackle the losses and damages from climate change impacts. Thus, much more work is needed to address the urgent priorities of adaptation finance and to ensure principles of equity are hard-coded into our now-acknowledged global pivot away from fossil fuels. Phasing out of fossil-fuels is a mandatory route. However, the principles of equity and fairness must triumph. For us, it is about making strategic plans for a gradual phasing out and hoping that the developed countries will also do their part in providing the much-needed financial support.
5. I am pleased that we were able to enact a robust Climate Change Act which makes provisions for almost all facets of climate action in the country. We must now sustain advocacy for its robust implementation from the federal to the subnational in order to engender complete resilience building and sustainable development of our dear nation. Make no mistakes about it, we can no longer discuss development without climate change. The two are not in competition rather they are complementary. As Nigeria and other African countries update their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) going into COP29 and COP30, there is need to be more ambitious with our targets especially the intersections between food security and energy, while maintaining our focus on development.
6. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, it is a thing of joy to see that all the relevant stakeholders are here present. I hereby encourage us to take maximum advantage of this platform to engage effectively, exploring the collaborative opportunities that exist between state and non-state actors, the private sector, CSOs, etc, making meaningful contributions towards ameliorating the negative impacts of climate change in Nigeria, Africa and the world, while preparing for greater climate actions ahead of COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, later this year.
7. I thank the Board of Trustees of CSDevNet, Management and the organizers of this event.
8. In the meantime I enjoin you to sit back, pay close attention, make your meaningful contributions, so that this workshop will be engaging and impactful.
9. You are all welcome once again and happy deliberation.

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