RismadarVoice Reporters
October 20, 2026
The Presidency has unveiled the North-West Climate Fund, an initiative designed to mobilise approximately ₦20 billion over four years to address flooding, drought, desertification and other environmental challenges affecting communities across the region.
The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Community Engagement (North-West), Abdullahi Tanko Yakasai, announced the funding target on Tuesday during the North-West Climate Summit held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.
The summit, themed Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Unlocking Land, Water and Energy Systems, brought together government officials, development partners and investors to explore strategies for strengthening climate resilience.
Yakasai explained that the proposed fund would support projects aimed at addressing environmental degradation, improving water security, promoting renewable energy and protecting vulnerable communities.
According to him, the Presidency hopes to mobilise about ₦20 billion over the next four years through partnerships and climate financing opportunities.
He identified three major components of the initiative: the North-West Climate Fund, the Climate Investment Marketplace and the North-West Climate Academy.
The investment marketplace will provide a platform through which state and local governments can present climate-related projects to development partners, financial institutions and prospective investors.
Yakasai said the initiative would encourage direct investment in practical solutions to environmental challenges while creating economic opportunities for communities.
The Climate Academy, meanwhile, is expected to train 10,000 young people in climate-related skills, including renewable energy, environmental sustainability and green entrepreneurship.
The academy’s lead consultant, Dr Mea Boykins, disclosed that the programme was still being developed, with plans to admit its first participants within nine months.
She explained that the initiative would involve educational institutions and international partners to equip young Nigerians with skills required for emerging opportunities in the green economy.
Speaking at the summit, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Climate Change, Kama Nkemkanma, warned that climate change was increasingly affecting food security, infrastructure, water resources and community stability.
Nkemkanma, who represented Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, stressed that preventive investment was more economical than rebuilding communities after environmental disasters.
He also called for transparency in project selection and financial management to ensure that the proposed fund delivered measurable benefits.
The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the North-West Governors’ Forum and the North-West Development Commission.
The seven states expected to benefit are Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Jigawa and Zamfara.
The development comes amid concerns about the vulnerability of several Nigerian communities to flooding and other climate-related emergencies.
Nigeria’s 2026 Annual Flood Outlook identified numerous communities across the country as vulnerable, including areas within six North-West states.
The Presidency said the summit’s outcomes would contribute to Nigeria’s preparations for international climate engagements and strengthen regional cooperation on environmental protection.
However, the ₦20 billion represents a proposed fundraising target, rather than money already disbursed or fully secured for implementation.
