Nigeria, Germany Launch Carbon Offsetting Rice Emissions Project to Tackle Climate Change and Boost Food Security

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria has officially launched the Carbon Offsetting Rice Emissions (CORE) Project, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from rice production while boosting yields and strengthening food security.

The project is the result of a long-standing agricultural cooperation between Nigeria and Germany, supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and in partnership with Olam Agri Nigeria Ltd.

The high-profile launch, held at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre in Abuja, brought together key stakeholders including the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari; the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal; the Deputy Head of Mission of the German Embassy, Johannes Lehne; representatives of Olam Agri Nigeria; development partners; and senior government officials.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, described agriculture as a pillar of Nigeria’s economy and a lifeline for millions of families. He stressed that the CORE project comes at a critical moment as climate change continues to threaten food production systems.

“This initiative will empower smallholder farmers in Kano, Benue, and Nasarawa with scalable, climate-smart farming practices. By reducing methane emissions from rice paddies, we are not only safeguarding livelihoods but also contributing to Nigeria’s climate goals,” he said.

Kyari noted that the project demonstrates how agricultural carbon offsetting can be credible, transparent, and inclusive, laying the foundation for a sustainable carbon market in Nigeria.

Representing the German government, Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy, Johannes Lehne reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to Nigeria’s agricultural transformation.

He highlighted that Germany contributed €9.94 billion to climate finance globally in 2023, leveraging both public and private investments.

Germany’s agricultural portfolio in Nigeria and ECOWAS, worth €117 million and co-financed by partners including the Gates Foundation and the European Union, focuses on food security, nutrition, job creation, and climate-smart farming practices.

“CORE is a practical step towards reducing methane emissions while boosting rice yields. Germany is proud to support Nigeria, not only financially but also in shaping the enabling policies that will make agricultural carbon markets thrive,” Lehne said.

Delivering a special address on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Climate Technology and Operations underscored the urgency of tackling climate change in Nigeria.

He reminded participants that agriculture contributes nearly 25% of Nigeria’s GDP but also accounts for 33% of greenhouse gas emissions, with rice farming being one of the largest contributors due to methane from flooded paddies.

He emphasized Nigeria’s pledge to achieve Net Zero by 2060 under the Paris Agreement, guided by the Climate Change Act (2021), the Energy Transition Plan, and the National Adaptation Plan.

“Nigeria loses over $100 million annually to climate-related flooding. The CORE project is proof that climate solutions can also be prosperity solutions. A farmer in Nasarawa told us, ‘For the first time, my rice field used less water and gave me more harvest.’ This is the future we must scale up across the country,” he said.

Speakers at the event stressed the importance of partnerships between government, the private sector, and local communities in sustaining the project. Olam Agri Nigeria, a key partner in implementation, is expected to provide technical expertise and market support to smallholder farmers.

Nigeria, Germany Launch Carbon Offsetting Rice Emissions Project to Tackle Climate Change and Boost Food Security

Renewable Energy: Stakeholders Call for Urgent Reform of Technical Education Curricula

By: Michael Mike

There has been a call for the Nigeria’s renewable energy sector tò be positioned as a key driver of economic growth and job creation, with stakeholders emphasizing the urgent need to reform technical education curricula to equip young people and women with green skills.

At a major milestone event in Abuja, the INCLUDE Knowledge Platform, in collaboration with the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, the Dutch Consulate General, and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), unveiled progress in its curriculum reform process designed to strengthen technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in renewable energy, with a particular focus on solar power.

Speaking at the event, a representative of the INCLUDE Knowledge Platform, Victoria Manya cautioned that Nigeria’s energy transition must avoid replicating the inequalities associated with the fossil fuel sector.

“Energy transition, instead of breaking chains, was at risk of becoming fossil’s handmaiden because it was replicating the injustices that have historically been associated with the fossil sector,” she said.

Manya highlighted the vast potential of renewable energy to generate employment, particularly for women and young people, while also helping the country tackle its persistent energy deficit and climate change challenges. She stressed the importance of inclusive policies that prioritize marginalized groups in the green economy.

According to her, INCLUDE, working with the House Committee on Renewable Energy, the NBTE, GIZ, and more than 100 technical stakeholders, redesigned the solar photovoltaic (PV) curriculum at the ND, HND, and National Occupational Standards (levels 4 and 5). She noted that the process, led by NBTE’s Head of Curriculum Development, Dr. Hatim Koko, benefitted from strong technical support from the Dutch Consulate and other partners.

In his keynote address, Chairman of the House Committee on Renewable Energy, Hon. Adam Victor Ogene, underscored the sector’s importance not only in tackling climate change but also in unlocking economic opportunities.

“Our renewable energy sector is more than just a response to climate change; it is a driver of economic growth, job development, and national pride.

“I’m personally impressed by the impactful work of the INCLUDE Knowledge Platform in Nigeria. Their contributions to policy formulation and sustainable development deserve recognition and applause.”

He further noted that the reviewed renewable energy curriculum will equip Nigerian youths with the skills to harness the nation’s abundant solar, wind, hydro, and biomass resources.

“This will reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, promote energy security, and attract investment, creating thousands of jobs in the process,” he added.

Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan targets 30 percent renewable energy penetration by 2030. Meeting this ambition will require more than 340,000 green jobs by 2030, rising to 840,000 by 2060. Globally, the renewable energy sector generated over 13 million jobs in 2023, and Africa’s share is projected to triple by 2030.

However, industry leaders warn that skills gaps persist, with nearly half of technical roles in Nigeria’s renewable sector currently unfilled due to a lack of industry-aligned training. The new curriculum reform seeks to bridge that gap and ensure that Nigerian workers are positioned to benefit from the global energy transition.

Renewable Energy: Stakeholders Call for Urgent Reform of Technical Education Curricula

NHRC Calls for Swift Trials of Arrested Leaders of Ansaru Terrorist Group

By: Michael Mike

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on the Federal Government to swiftly put every machinery in place to ensure swift trials of the arrested leaders of the notorious terrorist group, Anssaru, ensuring that they are held to the highest form of accountability befitting their heinous crimes.

The call was made on Tuesday by the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu at the presentation of July 2025 Human Rights Dashboard in Abuja.

Ojukwu while lamenting the increase in killings of security personnel and auxiliary members of vigilante group, said there was urgent need to ensure that all needed apparatus are put in place to tackle insecurity, particularly terrorism in the country.

The National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu had at a press briefing over the weekend said two terrorists, Mahmud Muhammad Usman (aka Abu Bara’a/Abbas/Mukhtar) and Mahmud al-Nigeri (aka Mallam Mamuda), both leaders of Andaru and on the wanted list of Nigeria, the US, UK and UN were captured in an operation which was conducted between May and July 2025.

Ojukwu said: “From our observatory, we are gravely concerned by the resurgence and escalation of deadly violence in different parts of the country. In Sokoto, 15 men were killed in a reprisal attack by suspected members of Lakurawa. In Kebbi, a similarly tragic pattern emerged, with three police officers losing their lives in a failed abduction attempt.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the month of July represents the deadliest for vigilante groups in the country with a fatality of almost a hundred deaths. The role of vigilante in supporting our security and armed forces in the field of battle should not be lost on us. Their decimation portends danger for our collective security and the enjoyment of our liberties. These are not isolated incidents; they represent a failure of security, justice and accountability. We are seeing an increase in targeted killings of law enforcement agents; frequent kidnappings and killings by bandits; brazen acts of violence by cultist groups and widespread violations of the right to life, particularly in communities already vulnerable due to conflict and poverty.

“It is in this regard, that the National Human Rights Commission welcomes the arrests of the leaders of Ansaru, a deadly terrorist organisation which is responsible for gross human rights violations of Nigerians. We commend the Department of State Services, the Armed Forces and the Office of the National Security Adviser for this feat. There is much we can achieve in safeguarding our citizens and human rights if agencies collaborate and adopt human rights-based approaches. We call on the authorities to swiftly put every machinery in place to ensure swift trials of the terrorist leaders and ensure that they are held to the highest form of accountability befitting their heinous crimes.”

He added that: “As we salute the courage and gallantry of our intelligence and armed forces, we call on other sectors of our security and law enforcement to rise up to the responsibility of safeguarding the human rights of Nigerians currently facing attacks in Benue, Plateau, Niger, Zamfara, Sokoto and Borno states all of whom, based on our dashboard for July are facing dire security situations.”

Ojukwu asked security agencies to reaffirm their commitment to professionalism and human rights in their operations; government actors to address the root causes of these violations – poverty, impunity, and weak institutional responses.

He equally asked civil society and the media to continue raising awareness and putting pressure where needed; and all citizens, he called, to speak out and stand firm against violence, injustice, and indifference.

He disclosed that in the month of July, a total of 331,035 complaints were received by the commission across the nation.

He noted that: “The most prevalent issues this month relate to law enforcement and human dignity, freedom from discrimination, and economic, social, and cultural rights. These are not new issues, but their persistence underscores systemic problems we cannot normalize.”

He stressed that: “When dignity is undermined by those tasked with upholding the law, the social contract begins to erode. When people are denied equal treatment or suffer indignities due to who they are, we all suffer a loss in our collective humanity.”

NHRC Calls for Swift Trials of Arrested Leaders of Ansaru Terrorist Group