Experts explore how to integrate climate smart agriculture in Nigeria

Development and climate experts and policy makers from Nigeria and across the world will gather in a virtual event to discuss how adaption and climate smart agriculture could be properly integrated in Nigeria’s revised Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) which is due to be published before the middle of the year.

The webinar, entitled “Adaptation and Smart Agriculture in the new Nigeria’s NDC”, is being organised by the Centre for Climate Change and Development (CCCD), Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (AEFUNAI), Ebonyi State, in partnership with World Resources Institute (WRI). It will hold on Thursday, May 20, 2021.

The webinar is part of a project aimed at injecting independent critical analysis into, and increasing public engagement and awareness, in the revision process of Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) due for submission later this year.

The aim of the webinar, according to the Director of the Centre, Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, is for experts across the world to explore different ways in which adaptation and smart agriculture could be properly and effectively integrated and captured in the new Nigeria’s NDC and climate action broadly.

Commenting on the forthcoming webinar, Prof. Okereke says: “I am looking forward to hosting experts to discuss different ways Nigeria could work harder to provide clearer costing of adaptation measures, current spend on adaptation as well as financing gaps and opportunities as well as help in determining, prioritizing and tracking climate smart agricultural interventions across the country.

“In assembling these highly respected and experienced panelists within Nigeria to share their thoughts on how adaptation and smart agriculture can be effectively captured in the new Nigeria’s NDCs, CCCD AEFUNAI is delivering on its mandate to serve as a major think tank for facilitating research, awareness creation and advocacy meaningful engagement of private sector and other critical stakeholders in the ongoing revision of the NDC in Nigeria. Also recommendations from the webinar would be documented and submitted to relevant government agencies for actions and implementations.”

According to Professor Okereke, the main presentation will draw from “Adaptation and Climate Smart Agriculture in the new Nigeria’s NDCs”, a commissioned short analytical piece by the Centre for Climate Change and Development as part of the project.

The webinar will feature Dr. Robert Onyeneke of the Department of Agriculture, AE-FUNAI; Prof. Emmanuel Oladipo of the Department of Geography, University of Lagos; and Professor Daniel Gwary, Director, Centre for Arid Zone Studies, University of Maiduguri, as panelists and discussant while Professor Okereke is the host and facilitator.

The webinar is part of the webinar series under “Promoting critical analysis of, and stakeholders’ engagement with the revision of Nigeria’s NDC,” a project being undertaken by the CCCD AEFUNAI, with support from the WRI.

The one-year initiative that commenced from July 2020 will, according to Project Coordinator, Professor Okereke, help to widen the horizon of the discourse and compliment the current government led NDC revision process.