Ayodele Morocco-Clarke: Championing Gender Justice in Nigeria’s Climate Future

Onyema Dike

Between the 23rd and 24th of June 2026, Abuja became the centre of one of the most consequential conversations on Africa’s climate future.

The Gender Inclusive Climate Change Governance (GenCGov) International Conference, held at the Federal Ministry of Education, convened regulators, civil society leaders, climate scientists, academics, and data professionals under the theme “Governing Climate in an Age of Retreat, Risk, and Geopolitical Re alignment.”

It was a gathering designed not merely to discuss climate change, but to interrogate the political, social, and gendered power structures shaping Africa’s response to it.

Among the most compelling voices at the conference was Professor Ayodele Morocco-Clarke, who chaired the session on “Climate Justice, Women’s Leadership and Subnational Accountability.”

Her presence was not incidental. In a field where expertise is often thin and global stakes are rising, Morocco-Clarke stands out as one of Nigeria’s most accomplished legal minds in climate change, energy transition, and environmental governance.

A legal practitioner with more than twenty five years of experience, she is currently Professor of Energy, Climate and Environmental Law & Policy at Nile University of Nigeria. Her academic pedigree spans the University of Aberdeen, where she earned her PhD in Oil & Gas and Environmental Law, and the University of Dundee, where she completed her LL.M. in Petroleum Law and Policy. She began her academic journey at Lagos State University and interned at ExxonMobil International in London.

Today, her research and teaching cut across environmental law, energy justice, constitutional law, climate change regulation, and sustainable development. She is a sought after speaker, a decorated scholar, and a trusted advisor to institutions ranging from NGOs to international organisations and the Nigerian Senate Committee on Constitutional Review.

Yet, despite her extensive credentials, Morocco-Clarke’s focus remains grounded in the urgent realities facing Nigeria. “I predominantly work at the intersection of energy, climate and environmental law,” she explained. “And conferences like the GenCGov International Conference are very important because they bridge the gap between different sectors and experts working on the climate crisis in Nigeria. In fora such as these, there is a synergy and knowledge sharing between a smorgasbord of fields and people… In addition, knotty and unclear issues often get ironed out and clarity obtained. At these sessions, connections are made and collaborations subsequently undertaken by conference participants.”

Her emphasis on collaboration reflects a broader truth: Nigeria’s climate challenge is not merely environmental. It is economic, political, and deeply social. And nowhere is this more evident than in the gendered dimensions of climate vulnerability.

“The GenCGov International Conference was particularly important and timely because it sought to shine a light on the dark space of one of the most vulnerable and often overlooked groups within the climate change discourse and action – women,” she said. With women making up 49.4% of Nigeria’s population, and research showing they disproportionately suffer climate impacts, Morocco-Clarke argues that Nigeria’s climate strategy must undergo a fundamental shift. “There must be an urgent paradigm shift in the modus operandi adopted in Nigeria’s climate action and plans.”

Her session on climate justice and women’s leadership underscored this urgency. “In Nigeria, one must make clear that climate change disproportionately burdens women,” she noted. But rather than waiting for top down solutions, “grassroots women led coalitions are actively driving the shift toward gender-responsive climate policies.”

These coalitions are demanding subnational accountability to ensure climate finance and environmental protections reach frontline communities. Morocco-Clarke highlighted systemic inequalities, particularly in agriculture, where women form a large portion of the labour force but lack land ownership rights, access to credit, and long term investment opportunities. She also pointed to heightened vulnerability during environmental disasters, where displacement exacerbates gender based violence and health risks.

Despite these challenges, she sees hope. “It is heartening that significant batches of women in Nigeria are shifting from being treated as passive victims to active leaders in climate adaptation and mitigation.” Across the Niger Delta, Cross River, and other regions, women’s cooperatives are pioneering agroecology, mangrove restoration, and waste management. Initiatives like WISE and the Nigeria Women’s Climate Assembly are bypassing exclusionary policy structures to build feminist, community driven climate frameworks.

But the governance gap remains wide. “While the Federal Government of Nigeria maintains a Climate Change Gender Policy, translating this into concrete action at the state and local levels remains a major challenge,” she said.

Weak subnational governance and cultural barriers continue to restrict women’s participation in environmental decision making. Women led groups are now campaigning for transparent climate fund tracking, enforcement of reparatory justice for oil impacted communities, and stronger protection of women’s rights.

Morocco-Clarke’s voice carries weight not only because of her expertise, but because she represents a growing cadre of African scholars shaping global climate discourse. Her prolific academic output, including peer reviewed articles and a book on environmental protection, climate change, and energy justice, positions her as a leading thinker in Nigeria’s climate action and energy transition.

The GenCGov Conference made one thing clear: Nigeria’s climate future will be determined not only by policy frameworks and international agreements, but by the ability of its institutions to centre gender, justice, and accountability. And in that evolving landscape, Professor Ayodele Morocco-Clarke is one of the voices ensuring that the country does not look away from the people most affected.