Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening capacity in climate change and energy transition, emphasizing its dedication to equipping Nigerians with the necessary expertise to tackle environmental challenges.
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, made this pledge while receiving a delegation from the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use, WASCAL, led by its Executive Director, Dr. Emmanuel Wendsongre Rande, during a working visit to the ministry.
Lawal assured that the government will continue to collaborate with WASCAL and similar institutions to address climate change-related issues in Nigeria and the West African sub-region.
He said, “The Ministry will continue to support, partner, and collaborate with WASCAL and any similar institutions in its efforts to address climate change-related issues in the West African sub-region and Nigeria in particular.”
He also confirmed Nigeria’s participation in the upcoming International Conference on Climate Change in Nigeria and the Ministerial Conference on Climate Change in Guinea Conakry later this year.
The Minister commended the German Government for funding WASCAL’s initiatives in the region, ensuring progress in climate change mitigation and energy transition.
He further praised WASCAL for its academic collaborations with Nigerian universities, including the Federal University of Technology, Minna, and the Federal University of Technology, Akure, saying, “I commend WASCAL for using two Nigerian universities in providing scholarships for Nigerian students to study and research climate-related topics.”
Speaking during the visit, the Executive Director of WASCAL Dr. Emmanuel Wendsongre Rande highlighted the Centre’s achievements, stating, “Our organization has produced over 60,000 climate change experts with first degrees, masters, and PhDs through conventional universities.”
Rande also noted that WASCAL’s research focuses on fertilizer production, mining, and agriculture, studying the impact of climate change on these sectors.
He further sought the Ministry’s support in hosting the International Conference on Climate Change in Nigeria and the Ministerial Conference on Climate Change in Guinea Conakry later this year.
“We seek the support of the Ministry in hosting the International Conference on Climate Change in Nigeria and the Ministerial Conference on Climate Change in Conakry, Guinea, later this year,” he appealed.
