Nigeria Reiterates Commitment to Sustainable Development, Climate Action
By: Abudu Olalekan
Washington D.C., October 15, 2025 – The air in the IMF/World Bank meeting hall was thick with talk of numbers. Debt. Growth. But Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite had something else on her mind: the planet.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Finance stood at the podium, 14th Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action. Her mission? To tell the world Nigeria wasn’t just talking—about sustainable development. About climate action. They were doing.
The meeting wasn’t just another conference. It’s where finance ministers hash out how to tackle climate change—without tanking their economies. Uzoka-Anite knew the stakes. Nigeria, a country grappling with both poverty and climate shocks, had to show it was serious.
She laid it out. A sustainable finance strategy. Fiscal reforms to make the budget stronger. Green bonds. Carbon markets. Partnerships to get concessional finance—blended with private capital.
Nigeria’s been here before. Issued its first green bond in 2017. Second in 2019. Third now. Each time, funds go to projects that matter—renewable energy, sustainable agriculture. But this time, she said, it’s bigger. More integrated.
“Climate change isn’t a standalone issue. It’s tied to our budget, our growth, our people’s lives,” she said. “We can’t separate them anymore.”
Nature-based solutions, too. Projects that cut emissions and help adapt—like irrigation systems. Transport. Early warning systems for disasters. All with clear, transparent use of funds.
Third green bond? Already out. Financing both mitigation and adaptation. Proof, she said, of their commitment.
The room listened. Some nodded. Others scribbled notes. A delegate from a neighboring country leaned over. “How do you balance growth and climate?” he asked. Uzoka-Anite smiled. “By making climate part of growth. Green bonds don’t just fund projects—they build trust. With investors. With our people.”
Her strategy wasn’t just about money. It was about resilience. Fiscal reforms meant the budget could handle climate shocks. Green bonds? They’re not just for show—they’re for solar farms, reforestation, flood defenses. Carbon markets? A way to put a price on pollution, so businesses think twice before emitting.
“ We need partners,” she said. “Not just to fund, but to collaborate. To share tech. To build capacity. So when we talk about climate action, it’s not Nigeria alone—it’s all of us.”
Nigeria’s commitment comes at a critical time. The country’s faced floods, droughts, and desertification. Millions depend on agriculture—threatened by changing weather. The finance strategy? It’s a lifeline. For farmers. For families. For the future.
As she stepped down from the podium, the room clapped. Not just polite applause. Appreciative. Because in a world where climate talks often stay in the clouds, Nigeria was bringing it down to earth. Showing that sustainable development isn’t a dream. It’s a plan. And they’re executing it.
