By Dele Ogbodo
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, has said that by 2050, the global drive for green economy is projected to be worth $10 trillion.
This is coming even as he asserted that the complexity of climate change requires that government, the organized private sector, academia and other stakeholders to pull down their various disciplinary barriers and team up to develop holistic and scalable solutions to the climate change dilemma.
Within the Nigeria context, he says the country faces a dual challenge, first, on how to mitigate climate threats while at the same time unlocking economic growth that comes with it.
Speaking recently at a well-attended conference in Enugu, Enugu State as key note speaker on Climate Change with theme: “Harnessing Interdisciplinary Research to Develop Innovative Solutions to Climate Change” at the Godfrey Okoye University, the Minister who was represented by his Special Assistant (SA), Dr. Patricks Oghuma, admitted that research and innovation have become so interruptive and disruptive that they no longer beg for accommodation in climate change space.
He said, for instance: “From desertification in the northern part of the country to flooding in the south, the risks are real, but so are the opportunities.
On the over $10 trillion economy that the green economy may likely spuns, he added that Nigeria can take advantage and position itself as a leader in climate innovation through partnerships, where academia’s breakthroughs meet industry’s scalability and entrepreneurship’s agility.
“Nigerian universities and research institutes produce groundbreaking work, biofuels, solar tech, drought-resistant crops, but too many patents gather dust.
“Industry needs scalable solutions; researchers need commercialization pathways. Together, we can bridge this gap.
“Interdisciplinary research is shaping the future of nations, and Nigeria is primed to lead the way in Africa and beyond.”
With Nigeria’s vibrant startup ecosystem coupled with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda that is committed to research and development, and a rapidly growing STI sector, Nigeria has the potential to become a global hub for innovation, investment, and sustainable technological advancement.
According to Nnaji, the Enugu climate change conference aligns with the priority areas of the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, explaining that Nigeria is at the tipping point of a major digital and technological transformation.
According to him, this is the moment to be part of the journey and the opportunities embedded in the $10 trillion must not go waste.
He said: “Presently, we have developed a Technology Action Plan for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation for Energy, Agriculture and Industry economic sectors in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment and National Council on Climate Change as a tool to address our climate actions and address our Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
“Climate action plans submitted by each country under the Paris Agreement of 2015 to reduce Green-House-Gas (GHG) and adopt to climate impact, this document was approved by the Federal Government in 2023 and more economic sectors as identified by NDCs will be approved after several stakeholders’ consultations and due diligence.
“The Ministry is championing the Global Clean-Tech (climate technologies) innovation Programme (GCIP) a programme that promotes innovation and entrepreneurship in emerging markets and developing economies to address climate and environmental challenges.”
Part of the activities of that programme, he said is the collaboration with Universities to unlock the kind of breakthroughs needed to accelerate industrialization, the outcome of the programme will serve as a new era of strategic foresight and research integration.
In order to benefit the oil and gas industry and provide sustainable economic growth, the Ministry also produced the National Policy on Methanol fuel Production Technology and after the approval, has been promoting the technology deployment in collaborations with different MDAs, Research Institutes and States, he added.
“I am happy to inform you that President Bola Tinubu, has approved the establishment of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Research and Innovation and my Ministry is serving as the Secretariat.
“My Ministry is assisting in integrating research and innovation efforts across Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs) to breakdown Ministerial silos that have historically hindered national development. This latest move will accelerate on economic diversification agenda, enhance competitiveness, reduce import dependency, and position Nigeria as a knowledge-driven economy.
“In another development, Nigeria through my ministry has signed a 2,600-megawatt (MW) solar module supply agreement with LONGi Solar France SARL.
“The solar modules will power Nigeria’s Green Hydrogen Hub Project, located in the Liberty Oil & Gas Free Trade Zone in Akwa Ibom State.
“This project is expected to transform Nigeria into a regional hub for clean energy production, leveraging its abundant solar resources to drive industrial growth, hydrogen exports, and clean mobility solutions. This is one of the largest solar procurement deals in sub-Saharan Africa.
“The fight against climate change is not a solo mission, it is a symphony of expertise. Whether you are a scientist, entrepreneur, artist, or policymaker, your perspective matters.
“Let us commit to breaking down silos, embracing diverse knowledge, and co-creating solutions that are as interconnected as the ecosystems we strive to protect.
“Together, through interdisciplinary collaboration, we can turn the tide on climate change and build a resilient, equitable, and sustainable future.” He said.
