Lagos: The Lagos State Government has announced that its 2025 International Climate Change Summit (LICCS) will center on unlocking sustainable financing and innovation to bolster Africa’s coastal resilience and blue economy. The announcement was made by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, during a news conference in Lagos, ahead of the summit scheduled for November 6 to November 7.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Wahab stated that the summit, themed ‘Blue Economy, Green Money: Financing Africa’s Coastal Resilience and Ocean Innovation,’ aims to provide a strategic platform for governments, investors, and global development partners to devise actionable solutions to climate-related challenges. He emphasized Lagos’ determination to transform challenges such as flooding, coastal erosion, and rising sea levels into opportunities for economic growth and environmental sustainability.
Wahab highlighted that the 2025 edition is expected to attract over 1,200 delegates from Africa and beyond, including global CEOs, financiers, researchers, and young innovators, all focused on mobilizing resources for Africa’s climate resilience. The summit will focus on four key areas: the blue economy, green finance, innovation and youth empowerment, and partnerships, aimed at creating long-term transformation for Lagos and other African coastal cities.
He described the event as an opportunity to position Lagos as Africa’s climate leadership hub, in anticipation of the COP30 global climate conference. Wahab expressed gratitude for the support of partners such as Eko Atlantic, NIMASA, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). He urged the media, private sector, and global community to actively engage in the summit, which aims to serve as a launchpad for innovative financing models for Africa’s climate resilience.
The Head of Corporate Communications at Eko Atlantic City, Ms. Joanna Fabikun, detailed the city’s contributions to coastal protection and environmental sustainability, describing it as a model for resilience against climate-induced erosion in Lagos. She recounted how the Eko project originated from the need to combat severe coastal erosion threatening Victoria Island and parts of Lagos for decades.
Mr. Michael Bankole, Technical Lead for the summit, explained that the first day would feature technical sessions and high-level panel discussions with international participation, addressing the economic, environmental, and policy implications of climate change. The two-day program will have stakeholders share insights on climate financing, economic resilience, and sustainable development. Discussions will also focus on catalyzing market-driven climate solutions, strengthening economic systems, and influencing policy direction in alignment with the Federal Government’s climate adaptation agenda.
Bankole noted that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has shown commitment to addressing climate-related economic issues, and the summit aims to complement these efforts by generating actionable strategies for implementation at the subnational level. Additionally, the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, assured the agency’s readiness to partner with the Ministry in hosting the event. Represented by the Deputy Director of the Deep Blue Project at NIMASA, Mr. Tuti Hebron, Mobereola emphasized that the summit would provide opportunities for entrepreneurs to harness the blue economy’s vast potential, showcasing Lagos’ offerings in coastal tourism, fishing, and marine resource development, as well as its potential for wealth creation and job opportunities.