L-R: Keynote Speaker / Executive Director, Africa Green Economy and Sustainability Institute (AGESI), Dr. Eugene Itua; Representative of the Director General of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) — Director, Applied Meteorological Services, of NiMet, Mrs Glory Onyegbule and Convener, Mr Sam Nwosu at the 2025 Nigeria Environment Outlook on Friday, October 17, 2025 in Lagos-Nigeria.
Participants at the recently held Nigeria Environment Outlook 2025 have urged a national green transformation, describing the Outlook as a compass to unlock Nigeria’s green wealth.
Hosted by Environment Africa Magazine in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment on Friday, October 17, 2025, in Lagos, the urge for green transformation was headlined by various speakers as they called for decisive policy reforms and stronger incentives to accelerate Nigeria’s transition toward a sustainable, circular, and inclusive green economy.
The event convened representatives from government, the private sector, civil society, and academia to examine the country’s environmental challenges and pathways for green growth.
In his opening address, Sam Nwosu, Convener of the Nigeria Environment Outlook and Editor-in-Chief of Environment Africa Magazine, described the gathering as both a reflective and directional moment for Nigeria’s environmental future.
“This gathering is both a mirror and a compass,” Nwosu said. “A mirror to reflect on our progress, and a compass to guide our actions forward.”
He explained that the Nigeria Environment Outlook was designed not simply as an annual conference, but as a national framework for accountability — one that uses data, policy dialogue, and practical insight to track the country’s environmental trajectory.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Eugene Itua, Executive Director of the African Green Economy Strategy Institute (AGESI) and Advisory Board Member of the UNDP Africa Green Business and Financing Initiative, urged the Federal Government to adopt radical incentives for businesses investing in the circular economy.
He argued that Nigeria’s natural and human capital — from its forests and waterways to its abundant sunlight and youth population — constitute “undiscovered Green Wealth” that remains underutilized.
“For too long, we’ve treated the environment as a cost or a problem to be managed,” he said. “This must change. We must now view our climate challenge as the single greatest economic opportunity Nigeria has ever faced.”
Dr. Itua warned that Nigeria stands at a critical juncture — facing desertification, deforestation, and urban pollution — but emphasized that these threats could be transformed into economic opportunities through innovation, investment, and effective policy enforcement.
Calling for a shift from policy design to execution, Dr. Itua proposed what he termed “The Policy Punch” — a model for proactive governance that links sustainability targets with measurable outcomes.
“Our policies must become a sword of implementation that protects our Green Wealth,” he said. “We must embed sustainability into national planning — across energy, agriculture, transport, and urban development — and enforce zero tolerance for industrial pollution.”
He stressed that the private sector remains a vital partner in achieving this transformation and called for fiscal and tax reforms to encourage investment in renewable energy, waste conversion, and circular production systems.
“The environment is the operating system of our economy,” Dr. Itua remarked. “It sustains the profitability of every other sector.”
Beyond government action, Dr. Itua called for the creation of a “Green Compact for Nigeria” — a unified framework aligning environmental protection, economic resilience, and social inclusion.
“No single actor can deliver sustainability in isolation,” he said. “We need a Partnership of the Heart, where government acts as the enabler, the private sector as the innovator and investor, and every citizen as a custodian of change.”
He also emphasized the importance of youth and women in driving the green economy, describing them as “frontline champions of climate innovation and environmental stewardship.”
Nwosu echoed this sentiment in his opening remarks, urging that the Nigeria Environment Outlook continue to serve as a national reference point for tracking progress and fostering collaboration.
“Let this be more than an event,” he said. “Let it be a spark — one that ignites partnerships, influences policy, and elevates the environmental agenda across all sectors.”
As the conference drew to a close, Dr. Itua painted an aspirational picture of Nigeria’s future — one in which policy coherence, private investment, and citizen engagement converge to produce a cleaner, more resilient economy.
“Let us be the generation that turned the tide,” he said. “Together, we can shape a greener present defined by courage, innovation, and unity; and build a sustainable and resilient future that is truly and proudly Nigerian.”
A key highlight of the event was the unveiling of the second edition of Nigeria’s Top100 Environmental and Sustainability Professionals, an initiative to recognize individuals advancing environmental innovation and resilience.
“This recognition is not just an award,” Nwosu noted. “It is a national acknowledgment of those shaping a livable, sustainable Nigeria.”
The Nigeria Environment Outlook 2025 reaffirmed Environment Africa Magazine’s role as a platform for evidence-based environmental dialogue, bridging the gap between recognition and reform in the pursuit of green growth and national sustainability.
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