By Faridat Salifu
The Lagos State Government has announced that its 2025 International Climate Change Summit (LICCS) will centre on unlocking sustainable financing and driving innovation to strengthen Africa’s coastal resilience and blue economy.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this on Thursday at a press conference in Lagos, ahead of the two-day summit scheduled for November 6–7, 2025.
He said the summit, themed “Blue Economy, Green Money: Financing Africa’s Coastal Resilience and Ocean Innovation,” would bring together governments, investors, and development partners to generate actionable solutions to climate-related challenges.
“Lagos, as a coastal megacity, faces increasing threats from flooding, coastal erosion, and rising sea levels, but we are determined to turn those challenges into opportunities for economic growth and environmental sustainability,” Wahab said.
“The summit embodies our belief that vulnerability can be transformed into vision, and that Lagos’ coastal challenges can become a source of economic and ecological strength.”
Wahab said the 2025 edition is expected to attract more than 1,200 delegates from across Africa and beyond, including chief executive officers, financiers, researchers, and young innovators, all focused on mobilising resources for Africa’s climate resilience.
He outlined four focus areas for the summit the blue economy, green finance, innovation and youth empowerment, and strategic partnerships that as drivers for long-term transformation in Lagos and other coastal African cities.
“Our goal is to make Lagos the climate capital of Africa, a city that not only adapts to change but leads it,” Wahab added.
He acknowledged the contributions of partners such as Eko Atlantic, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), noting their roles in advancing sustainability in the state.
Wahab also called on the media, private sector, and global community to actively engage in the summit, describing it as “a launchpad for innovative financing models that will shape Africa’s climate resilience.”
“Through this summit, Lagos is sending a clear message: Africa is not waiting to be rescued; we are ready to lead,” he said.
Speaking at the briefing, Ms. Joanna Fabikun, Head of Corporate Communications at Eko Atlantic City, highlighted the city’s contributions to coastal protection and environmental sustainability, describing it as a model for climate resilience in Africa.
Mr. Michael Bankole, the summit’s Technical Lead, said the first day will feature high-level panels and technical sessions focusing on the economic, environmental, and policy implications of climate change. He noted that the discussions will explore how to catalyse market-driven climate solutions and align subnational strategies with the Federal Government’s adaptation agenda.
In his remarks, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, Director-General of NIMASA, represented by Mr. Tuti Hebron, Deputy Director of the Deep Blue Project, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to the event.
He said the summit would help entrepreneurs tap into opportunities in coastal tourism, fishing, and marine resource development, strengthening Lagos’ position in the global blue economy.
