By Abbas Nazil
Nigeria’s environmental and sustainability leaders have charted a new course for a greener and more resilient nation during the 2025 edition of the Nigeria Environment Outlook conference held in Lagos.
The event, organised by Environment Africa Magazine in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment, gathered top government officials, industry experts, and civil society advocates under the theme “Shaping a Greener Present for a Sustainable and Resilient Future.”
Convener and Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Sam Nwosu, described the conference as both “a mirror and a compass” for Nigeria’s environmental progress.
He said it not only reviewed the nation’s environmental journey but also celebrated the Top 100 Environmental and Sustainability Professionals in Nigeria (2025 Edition) — individuals recognized for their outstanding roles in driving green growth, policy innovation, and environmental protection.
Director of the Department of Climate Change at the Federal Ministry of Environment, Dr. Iniobong Abiola-Awe, commended the organisers and emphasised the importance of collaboration and shared responsibility in tackling climate challenges.
She assured participants of the ministry’s commitment to supporting stakeholders in advancing clean energy, climate action, and the sustainable use of natural resources.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Eugene Itua, Executive Director of the African Green Economy Strategy Institute, called for bold policy reforms and financial incentives to unlock what he termed Nigeria’s “undiscovered green wealth.”
He stressed that Nigeria’s forests, water resources, sunlight, and innovative youth represent vast potential that must be harnessed through proactive governance and circular economy investments.
Dr. Itua urged a shift from reactive environmental regulation to proactive innovation, noting that the gap between policy formulation and execution remains a key weakness in Nigeria’s sustainability efforts.
Also speaking, Chief (Mrs) Anita Nana Okuribido, President of the Women in Renewable Energy Association, underscored the vital role of women in climate action and the need for gender inclusion in environmental policy.
She noted that energy poverty disproportionately affects women and urged that women’s innovation and leadership be central to Nigeria’s sustainability agenda.
Among those honoured at the event were Minister of Environment, H.E. Balarabe Abbas Lawal, Lagos Environment Commissioner Tokunbo Wahab, NiMet DG Prof. Charles Anosike, and NOSDRA DG Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke, among others.
Closing the event, Mr. Nwosu reaffirmed that the Nigeria Environment Outlook is more than an annual gathering but a catalyst for accountability, innovation, and policy transformation toward a greener future.
He urged all stakeholders to transform ideas into lasting partnerships that will shape Nigeria’s environmental destiny and secure a sustainable legacy for generations to come.