Former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Sam Onuigbo has been appointed as one of the patrons of Climate & Sustainable Development Network of Nigeria (CSDevNet).
At an event in Abuja on Wednesday, Onuigbo a the South East representative at North East Development Commission (NEDC) applauded CSDevNet’s unparalleled efforts at bringing together about 300 organisations that are at the frontiers of championing climate action and sustainable development across Nigeria.
According to the former lawmaker, this reflects a well-thought out action plan anchored on sound principles, which include equity and large-scale vertical integration of climate action, which revolve around eliminating the problems of working in silos.
He said, “Working in silos has been a huge menace to proper and impactful project implementation in Nigeria and it is commendable to see and be part of this vision of eliminating it. In the final analysis, it is not about competition, but rather complimentary in attaining the same vision— a prosperous world founded on clean and sustainable practices. I am proud to be part of this and I thank you for finding me worthy.
“One of the motivations for my commitment to climate action derives from my village— Obuohia Obi-Ibere, in Abia State— where I watched as I got older, climate change wipe out springs in the community, and further exacerbated the legendary gully erosion sites. Having witnessed all that, it was quite easy for me to pick up the climate change torch when at the GLOBE COP21 Legislators Summit at the French Parliament, we were urged to go back home and push for legislations and policies that will help ramp up climate action and realise the objectives of the Paris Agreement. That was the beginning of the journey to getting the Climate Change Act.
“I must say that this is a very good time for CSDevNet to continue to thrive. It is often said that great oaks from little acorns grow. Therefore, you are already strategically equipped to benefit from the remarkable leadership in climate action being exercised by President Bola Tinubu GCFR.
“This brings me to my concluding statement today: every COP process should provide us with a chance to come back home and place another brick in our climate action edifice. We must make it a point of duty to ensure that. That is my clarion call to all of you today.
“I thank the Board of Trustees of CSDevNet, the management, and indeed all of you for finding me worthy to be among the patrons.”
