Summit Rallies Global Leaders for Clean Energy, Climate Action, and Gender Equality.
By Caroline Ameh
The Africa Climate Change and Infrastructure Summit, held in Abuja from August 11 to 12, 2025, brought together diplomats, policymakers, and industry leaders in a united push for clean energy, urgent climate action, and gender inclusion, stressing Africa’s need for coordinated strategies to confront environmental and development challenges.
The high-level gathering attracted delegates from across Africa and beyond, including ambassadors from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Cuba, Russia, and Zambia, as well as senior Nigerian government officials and private sector executives.
Opening the summit, the convener underscored women’s indispensable role in climate resilience and national development, describing them as “pillars of progress” whose contributions must be better recognized in policy and practice.
Zambia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Paul Lombi, highlighted the severe energy crisis his country faced in 2023, driven by climate related disruptions. He pointed to innovative agricultural solutions such as the Gawu (apple green) tree sourced from Nigeria and Niger which serves as an organic fertiliser to improve soil health and promote sustainable farming.
DRC’s Ambassador, Pascaline Yakubu, spotlighted her country’s vast ecological wealth, noting it holds nearly half of Africa’s tropical rainforests and possesses enormous hydropower capacity. She cited the rehabilitation of the Inga Dam projected to generate 40,000 megawatts as a transformative project for the region’s power needs, despite ongoing delays due to conflict in eastern Congo.
Cuba’s Ambassador, Miriam Palmero, shared her country’s “Life Task” state plan, which integrates coastal protection and renewable energy development. She offered Cuba’s technical expertise to African nations, commending the continent’s advances in clean energy and calling for collaborative efforts toward “a fairer and more prosperous future.”
The Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Andrey L. Podelyshe, was recognized for Russia’s ongoing collaborations with Africa in energy and mining, including projects under the Russia–Africa Forum framework.
Chris Nkwonta, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Climate Change, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to fulfilling its Climate Change Act and international obligations through the National Climate Change Commission.
“We will continue to dialogue, collaborate, and seek technical assistance to ensure climate change conversations grow stronger,” he said, pledging legislative support for building a global coalition on climate action.
Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), detailed major infrastructure projects such as the Gulf of Guinea gas pipeline and the Nigeria LNG Train 7 expansion, which will add 7.6 million metric tons of annual capacity.
He reiterated Nigeria’s target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2030, or 45% with international assistance, framing natural gas as a vital transition fuel. Regional gas pipelines, including the Nigeria–Morocco project, were cited as critical for enhancing energy security and driving economic growth.
Summit convener Hon. Moses M. Owaru described Africa as standing at a crossroads where infrastructure gaps, climate risks, and economic uncertainty coexist with opportunities for innovation and inclusive development.
“We must use this summit as a springboard for actionable strategies, cross-border partnerships, and bold ideas,” Owaru urged.
By the close of the two-day event, participants had agreed on a collective message: Africa’s climate, energy, and development challenges can only be overcome through united action, inclusive leadership, and enduring global partnerships.
