Calls for a just transition to a green economy took centre stage at the African SDG Film Festival in Abuja, as Nigeria stepped up its climate action agenda.
The festival, hosted by Chanja Datti Recycling Company Ltd to commemorate its 10th anniversary, spotlighted the power of film and storytelling in advancing environmental sustainability, gender equality, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The festival also aims to maximise the impact of research, innovation and storytelling to increase awareness and ultimately improve lives and opportunities in the developing world.
Speaking at the event, the Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Pieter Leenknegt, stated that a “just transition” is necessary for Nigeria because its economy is heavily dependent on fossil fuels.
He said, “I mean, any country that is dependent either in terms of income or in terms of consumption of fossil fuels will have to go through a transition.”
“And countries can be assisted by international organisations for that. But it’s also, of course, wise to use part of the earnings from the fossil fuel sectors to precisely power that transition. And that is, of course, where, for instance, I remember captains of industries such as Tony Elumelu were making that statement very much.”
According to him, “the fossil earnings of Nigeria are necessary to power that transition. But, of course, we also have to see that transition really happening in the facts, and that’s going to be the exciting part, hopefully, of the coming years.”
The Ambassador also commended Chanja Datti for its environmental work, including helping the Belgian Embassy in Abuja implement a waste-sorting program.
“First of all, congratulations to Chanja Datti for their 10 years of existence, and they’ve not just been idling around; they’ve been doing extremely useful work. We got in touch with them over an EU-organised event on the circular economy. So we found out that they were actually able to guide us and accompany us in our journey to the circular economy at our embassy by ourselves here in Abuja.
“And in sorting trash and in recycling certain parts of that garbage. So this is how, in 2024, we became the first EU member state embassy in Nigeria that was sorting the garbage. So it implied also a bit of a culture change for part of our workforce.”
“Everybody, literally from the Deputy Ambassador to the garbage man or woman, had to be sensitised, made aware of those new procedures. And it’s Chanja Datti that made it possible for us. So we’re very happy, but that’s, of course, only the tip of the iceberg of what they are doing.”
“And this first film festival on SDGs that they organised here today is also totally their initiative and something that we would really like to applaud. Because five years away from the deadline for Agenda 2030, it’s high time to keep raising awareness with the population on the 17 SDGs, their targets and what we need to do together,” he said.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Climate Technology and Operations, Mr Olamide Fagbuji, noted that a green economy, climate ambition, and decarbonisation are key to Nigeria’s climate change energy transition plan.
He stressed the need for strategic communication and advocacy to show that Nigeria is ready for climate action.
Mr Olamide Fagbuji added that film and storytelling are powerful tools to communicate Nigeria’s net-zero ambitions.
“And there’s a need for very, very strategic communication and advocacy to let people know both nationally and globally that Nigeria is actually ready for climate action. We have quite a few challenges here with achieving our energy transition plan.
“And this medium of film actually provides the ability for these narratives to be shaped correctly from the point of view or from the perspective of the Nigerians, from the young people, from the grassroots, from the sub-national, as they say, a picture speaks a thousand words.
“This is one opportunity and a very powerful tool for communicating climate action and the pathway to Nigeria’s net zero ambition,” he said.
In an interview with journalists, Head of Strategy and Innovation at Chanja Datti Ltd., Mr Gabriel Onyebuolise, said the film festival is a dream and vision of Olufunto Boroffice, founder and CEO of Chanja Datti.
“Beyond promoting and creating awareness about the SDGs, drive conversations, bring people together, drive collaboration and increase action and impact regarding the Sustainable Development Goals.
“We think about people, we think about the planet, we think about partnerships before we even look into profit. So, we’re always looking at social impact and all the work that we do ties across different core SDG areas or focus areas.
He added that it would drive action, which requires awareness, conversations and change drivers through coming together and utilising storytelling and film as a viable tool.