SustyVibes, in partnership with the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), hosted a landmark Pre-COP29 Stakeholders Hangout on October 12, 2024, in Abuja. The event convened over 50 journalists, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) leaders, climate advocates, and sustainability experts to strategize on Nigeria’s priorities for COP29 and explore how collaboration can amplify the country’s climate agenda. Through powerful speeches, engaging panel discussions, and interactive roundtable sessions, the gathering fostered connections, enhanced climate communication and laid a foundation for Nigeria’s unified presence at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, this December.
The event commenced with welcome remarks from Daniel Oladoja, Country Lead for the Global Strategic Communications Council, who emphasized the need for unity and strategic planning in tackling climate change. Hannah Omokhaye, Project Manager at SustyVibes, highlighted the importance of collaboration between media and CSOs. At the same time, Ifeanyi Chukwudi, Senior Project Manager from CJID urged CSOs to hold leaders accountable for their climate commitments. A keynote address by Amara Nwankpa, Director of Partnership and Development at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation, outlined Nigeria’s path forward in the energy transition, advocating for incremental shifts towards renewable energy and a cohesive national platform at COP29.
The panel session addressed Nigeria’s COP29 priorities, the essential roles of CSOs in climate advocacy, and the media’s capacity to shape public understanding. Lovelyn Andrawus of Kwaji Environmental Foundation emphasised climate adaptation as a pressing need, calling for financing to support resilience initiatives for vulnerable communities. Gift Nwamadu of Clean Tech Hub shared insights on CSOs as key advocates, highlighting successful local projects that showcase Nigeria’s adaptability in the face of climate change.
Michael Etta, Media Specialist at EnviroNews, pointed out the knowledge gap in climate reporting and called for capacity-building programs for journalists to improve climate literacy. Roundtable discussions followed, delving into climate financing strategies, best practices for COP reporting, and potential avenues for collaboration. Tolulope Gbenro, a climate consultant, emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in climate finance, while Nicholas Adeniyi, Project Manager at CJID encouraged journalists to familiarize themselves with Nigeria’s climate commitments and adopt innovative storytelling techniques to engage the public.
In her closing remarks, Maryam Ahmad, Senior Analyst (Communications, Partnerships and Campaigns) at Gatefield, called on attendees to continue leveraging their connections to foster partnerships beyond the event. “Together, we can drive climate action in Nigeria,” she stated, urging journalists and CSOs to maintain the momentum in the lead-up to COP29.
Feedback from participants highlighted the impact of the event, with attendees expressing their commitment to ongoing collaboration and mutual support as they prepare for COP29.