UNFCCC Executive Secretary’s Visit to NCF

UNFCCC Executive Secretary’s Visit to NCF – March 6, 2025

From 4–7 March 2025, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), alongside key partners, hosted Mr. Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), on his first official visit to Nigeria. The four-day engagement brought together government leaders, development partners, civil society, and the private sector to assess Nigeria’s progress toward its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0) and explore pathways to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2060 through inclusive climate action and sustainable economic growth.

A major highlight of the visit was the Climate Change Symposium held at the Lekki Conservation Centre on 6 March, jointly hosted by the Lagos State Government, the National Council on Climate Change Secretariat (NCCCS), and NCF. The symposium, themed around the intersection of climate change, mangroves, and art, convened policymakers, business leaders, conservation experts, and the media to discuss Nigeria’s climate ambitions, nature-based solutions, clean energy opportunities, and the critical role of partnerships in advancing climate resilience. It also featured keynote addresses, a mangrove documentary, an art exhibition, and high-level panel discussions.

Throughout the visit, speakers emphasized the importance of scaling up investments in ecosystem restoration, climate finance, and green infrastructure to unlock Nigeria’s economic potential while protecting its natural heritage. NCF reaffirmed its commitment to advancing conservation-driven climate solutions through strategic partnerships, community engagement, and advocacy, while Mr. Stiell concluded his visit with a breakfast meeting at the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), reinforcing the private sector’s role in accelerating Nigeria’s transition to a resilient, low-carbon economy.