A delegation from California, United States, has visited the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) in Abuja to strengthen cooperation on climate action and economic development.
The 40-member delegation, comprising government officials, business leaders, and academics, was led by Adetokunbo Omishakin, California’s Secretary of Transportation.
Welcoming the visitors, NCCC Director-General Tenioye Majekodunmi described the partnership as timely, citing Nigeria’s rapidly growing population of over 230 million and its increasing energy needs.
“Your visit to Nigeria could not have come at a more crucial moment,” Majekodunmi said.
“With our large consumer market and abundant workforce, Nigeria offers vast opportunities for sustainable investments that can drive long-term growth.”
She identified climate change mitigation, technology exchange, and industrial trade as priority areas for collaboration, assuring the California team of the council’s full commitment.
Majekodunmi also outlined some of the council’s achievements since its establishment in 2021, including Nigeria’s first biennial transparency report, a revised climate pledge under the Paris Agreement, and the creation of a national climate change fund.
Having assumed office as NCCC’s Director-General on August 6, she noted that the partnership would accelerate President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda through technology transfer, peer-to-peer collaboration, and green growth initiatives.
Omishakin, in his remarks, said the delegation’s mission was to broaden economic opportunities while jointly addressing climate challenges.
He stressed California’s readiness to share expertise with Nigeria, highlighting the potential for knowledge exchange to stimulate economic development and advance climate priorities.
“For over five decades, California has been at the forefront of global environmental leadership,” Omishakin said.
During the discussions, both sides explored opportunities in climate-smart agriculture, plastic recycling, methane reduction, and carbon markets as pathways for unlocking new investment.
The delegation also included Dilpreet Sidhu, Los Angeles’ Deputy Mayor for International Affairs; officials from the California Energy Commission and the University of California, Davis; along with executives from companies such as Autodesk, SynBioBeta, and MEBO.
