Three Takeaways from the Nigeria Climate Investment Summit (NCIS)London

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Edited by Oke Epia, E-mail: sostainability01@gmail.com  | WhatsApp: +234 8034000706

Trends and Threads

The much-talked-about Nigeria Climate Investment Summit (NCIS) has come and gone. But the euphoria and substance of this inaugural flagship event of London Climate Action Week will continue to define Nigeria’s climate economy for a long time to come. For context, NCIS presented a much-desired opportunity to discuss Nigeria’s climate policies and investment readiness, while establishing an important platform for funders, investors, subnational leaders, regulatory bodies, Members of Parliament and other policy-makers to engage with the global green economy ecosystem. From renewables to carbon markets and other diverse opportunities across subnational levels, it is evident that one of Africa’s largest economies has positioned itself effectively for a just energy transition. 

The summit began with welcome remarks from the co-conveners: Oke Epia, CEO of SOStainability, Malini Mehra, CEO of GLOBE Legislators, and Rt. Hon. Sam Onuigbo, President of GLOBE Legislators. This was followed by keynotes from the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Dr. Tariye Gbadegesin, CEO of Climate Investment Funds (CIF), and Ms. Damilola Ogunbiyi, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General, and CEO SEForAll. This set the stage for the first high-level technical panel on ‘Power, Energy, and Renewables: Opportunities for Investors’ moderated by Her Excellency, Catriona Laing CB, former UK High Commissioner to Nigeria and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General to Somalia. Speakers on this panel were: Mr Pablo Vieira Global Director, NDC Partnership Support Unit, Mr Suresh Yadav, Director for Climate Change, Ocean and Energy Directorate, Commonwealth Secretariat, Mr. Trevor Hutchings, Chief Executive Officer, Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA), United Kingdom, Ms Heather Buchanan, CEO & Co-founder, UK’s Bankers for NetZero, and Dr. Wale Aboyade, Vice President, Public Policy and Government Relations, Sun King. The second panel on ‘Climate Finance & Opportunities in Nigeria’s Carbon Markets’ followed next. It was moderated by Dr. Tauni Lanier, Sustainable Finance Architect & Climate Capital Thought Leader while the Speakers were: Dr. Eugene Itua, Chief Executive, Natural Eco Capital, Ms Eniola Akinsete, Chief Sustainability Officer, Bank of Industry, Ms Sagarika Chatterjee, Director, Finance, Technology, and Capacity-building, Climate High-Level Champions, Mr. Tayo Ajayi, Vice President and Lead, Climate and Sustainability Investments, Nigeria Sovereign Investments Authority (NSIA), and Ms. Helen Finney Head of Carbon Market Programmes and Policy, UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. The panel sessions were followed by two special interventions from the Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Mr. Peter Mbah, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, and the Managing Director/CEO of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), represented by a member of the Board, Mr. Frank Owhor. As if to save the best for the last, the closing activity of NCIS 2026 was a remark by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who capped things up with a big announcement on the upcoming Lagos Climate Action Week(LAGCAW).

Below are the key three takeaways from NCIS 2026:  

Launch of GreenFinTel: To take forward some of the commitments made and partnerships initiated during the Summit, GLOBE and SOStainability announced the setting up the Green Finance Intelligence (Green FinTel) initiative to help track climate finance flows; build capacity of pertinent stakeholders to participate effectively in the climate economy ecosystem, support the creation of enabling environment for climate investments; and engender accountability through institutional and community oversight of climate finance flows into Nigeria, Africa, and other emerging markets. 

LAGCAW: From London to Lagos: The Conveners of London Climate Action Week will partner with GLOBE, SOStainability and the Lagos State Government to bring the first-ever City-level Climate Action Week in Africa to Lagos! His Excellency, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, set arrangements in motion with the formal announcement of Lagos Climate Action Week (LAGCAW) later this year. With this development, Lagos joins the league of London, New York, Shanghai, Sydney, Rio, and Baku, which have the rare privilege to host the world annually in their cities for Climate Action Week.   

NCIS 2027: The successful delivery of NCIS 2026 signals the commencement of plans for the sequel in 2027. SOStainability and GLOBE Legislators are therefore inviting expressions of interest as partners, sponsors, and collaborators at different levels for the NCIS sequel during London Climate Action Week 2027.

Spotlight

Photo Splash: Nigeria Climate Investment Summit (NCIS) London

The inaugural Nigeria Climate Investment Summit (NCIS) was held on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at the iconic Mansion House in London. A flagship event of London Climate Action Week, the summit drew participation from the global diplomatic community, multilateral agencies, institutional and private investors, policymakers, regulators, and dignitaries from Nigeria and the Diaspora. NCIS was convened by SOStainability and GLOBE Legislators and supported by the United Nations Sustainable Energy for All (SEForAll), the Commonwealth Secretariat, and the Worshipful Company of Fuellers, the City of London’s livery company. The summit produced several significant outcomes that will shape Nigeria’s climate finance trajectory within the global economy in the years to come. A key highlight was the announcement by the Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency Babajide Sanwo-Olu, of Lagos Climate Action Week (LAGCAW), scheduled for the latter part of 2026. Here are some pictures from the event.

SOS ALert

“Part of the things I have said is that we need to take it from talk to action. Part of the conversation is how Africa, as a continent, has been left behind for too long. We are not going to sit back; we are going to ask to have a space. And we are not asking for handouts or favours; we just want to be identified as real partners because of what we have to offer.”

• Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, during his remark at the inaugural Nigeria Climate Investment Summit (NCIS) held at Mansion House, London, on 23^rd June, 2026