In continued recognition of his role in the Climate Change discourse, the Sponsor of the Nigerian Climate Change Act and member that represented Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency, Chief Sam Onuigbo is once again in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to participate in two on going global events.
Rt Hon Onuigbo who is acknowledged nationally and internationally as the father of climate change in Nigeria and referred to by Some people as Mr Climate Change, is currently participating in the 15th Session of IRENA Assembly, and the World Future Energy Summit, which is part of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Summit 2025, that will end on 16 January, 2025.
Notably, Rt Hon Sam Onuigbo is the Nigerian Patron of the Climate and Sustainable Development Network (CSDevNet). CSDevNet lauds his unwavering dedication and groundbreaking contributions to the climate space. The network emphasized his vital role in advancing climate resilience and sustainable development, stating that his work has left an indelible mark both within and outside Nigeria.
As part of his expected engagements, Rep Sam Onuigbo has already featured in the IRENA Innovation Day Panel Discussion at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2025, with Norela Constantinescu, Deputy Director, IRENA – Innovation and Technology Center; Asami Miketa, Head, IRENA – Energy Transition Planning Power Sector Transformation; Patrick Westman, Global Head of Strategy & Policy, ENGIE Energy Access; Pravin B Kumar (GOGLA), Regional Representative South Asia Based in Mumbai, India; Nalin Agarawal, Founding Partner, Climate Collective/Climate Seeds Fund; and Crispan Zana, NEPAD.
The panel discussed the imperative of innovation in achieving climate resilience through sustainability, drilling it down on how different sectors of human activities should be integrated as we work towards inclusive green growth and sustainable economic development.
Speaking at the session, Rt Hon Onuigbo who is also the South-East Representative on the Governing Board of the North East Development Commission, where he chairs the Committee on Security, Climate Change, and Special Interventions, urged investors to come to Nigeria and invest in startups, innovations, and other profitable sectors of the Nigerian economy, pointing out that Nigeria has a youthful and educated population with outstanding Creative and productive energy.
Recall, President Bola Tinubu had stressed this strong position when he spoke at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Summit, saying, “To succeed, we must innovate, collaborate, and decisively collaborate as a global community.”