Nigeria’s National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) has opened a fresh front in US-Nigeria relations with a landmark engagement of a California delegation in Abuja.
The high-powered California team, led by the state’s Secretary of Transportation, Adetokunbo Omishakin, met with the NCCC on August 14 in a “decisive step” toward joint economic and environmental cooperation.
The 40-member delegation included government officials, business leaders, academics, and representatives from leading firms such as Autodesk and SynBioBeta.
NCCC Director-General Tenioye Majekodunmi said the visit came at a crucial time as Nigeria, with its 230 million-strong population, confronts rising energy demand. She stressed that the “California-Nigeria Partnership” would focus on climate mitigation, green technology, and industrial trade, adding that the Council would give the collaboration its full backing.
“This mission to Nigeria couldn’t have come at a better time,” said NCCC Director-General, Tenioye Majekodunmi, who only assumed office on August 6. “With over 230 million people, Nigeria’s consumer base and workforce present enormous opportunities to drive sustainable economic growth.”
Omishakin echoed the urgency of collaboration: “California has been providing global leadership on environmental issues for the last 50 years. We came here to talk about opportunities to grow the economic potential between Nigeria and California, and also discuss the existential issue of climate change.”
Nigeria’s National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), represented by its CEO Khalil S. Halilu, pledged readiness to partner with incoming investments, stressing the government’s push to localize and commercialize green technologies.
The discussions covered climate-smart agriculture, plastic recycling, methane reduction, and carbon credits as new financing streams. The California delegation included representatives from the California Energy Commission, the City of Los Angeles, Autodesk, SynBioBeta, and the University of California, Davis.
Majekodunmi also showcased NCCC’s milestones since its creation in 2021, including progress on Nigeria’s climate commitments under the Paris Agreement and the planned National Climate Change Fund.
Discussions at the session covered methane reduction, carbon credits, climate-smart agriculture, and recycling, with stakeholders agreeing on the need for stronger cooperation to scale climate solutions.
The meeting marked Majekodunmi’s first major international engagement since assuming office on August 6.
Her appointment positions the NCCC to deliver on President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda through climate diplomacy and technology-driven economic growth.
With California, the world’s fourth-largest economy and a hub of green innovation, on board, Nigeria now has a strategic partner to unlock opportunities across agriculture, energy, entertainment, and sustainable trade.
