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Stakeholders Call for Collective Efforts at Reducing Carbon Emissions
Stakeholders Call for Collective Efforts at Reducing Carbon Emissions
By: Michael Mike
Stakeholders have called for collective efforts towards reducing carbon emissions to safeguard public health and the environment.
Speaking at the maiden two-day World Decarbonization Summit 2025, themed “Accelerating decarbonization for a climate-secure future,” in Abuja, they also highlighted the roles of women and the media as central to climate advocacy and behavioural change, noting that they are well-placed to instill sustainable habits in families and communities.
The stakeholders noted that the summit goes beyond making declarations to delivering concrete strategies, alliances, and solutions that can advance renewable energy access, climate justice, and inclusive leadership.
They revealed that the summit also serves as a platform to raise public awareness about the health and environmental dangers of carbon emissions and an avenue to shape Africa’s role in the global energy transition.
They noted that though Nigeria depends heavily on crude oil revenues and fossil fuel use, but it remains among the most vulnerable to climate change impacts as the country in recent years have witnessed severe flooding that has displaced communities across states, and faced severe desertification while urban centres continue to grapple with air pollution and health hazards linked to gas flaring and generator dependence.
The summit underscores the urgency of finding a balance between sustaining an oil-driven economy and embracing renewable energy solutions.
Speaking at the summit, the Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environment, Federal Capital Territory, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, warned that climate change is not a one-off programme but a way of life that demands constant awareness and action.
She said: “Carbon in the air is very dangerous. We have decided to come up with a World Decarbonisation Day as a day to remind people of the effects of carbon in the air — extreme temperatures, death, bronchiolitis, asthma, and different lung diseases. Younger people are having more cancer now because they are breathing in all sorts of things. We want to start reducing the amount of carbon we put into the air.”
Fasawe identified major sources of emissions as car exhaust fumes, generators, fossil fuel use, open burning, and combustion at dump sites.
Fasawe while noting that fossil fuels cannot be eliminated without disrupting the ecosystem, however called for greater investment in renewable energy such as solar power, inverters, and batteries to serve homes, hospitals, and entire communities.
She stressed that the role of women in driving climate advocacy and shaping behavioural change cannot be overlooked, stating that they are uniquely positioned to promote sustainable practices within families and communities.
She said: “I believe that women are the nuclei of every society. At home, at work, even in business, there are some things you would defer to women, and that is why women are a very vital tool in sending out this message. Like I said, it is a way of life. It is women who will teach the children, it is women who will educate their spouses.”
Fasawe also urged the media to intensify awareness efforts, stressing that climate change is real and that responsibility for reducing carbon emissions rests not only with the government but with individuals as well.
In her opening address, the National President, Women in Energy, Oil & Gas, Mrs. Tolu Longe, said the summit is not about repeating old pledges but about charting bold strategies for Africa and women to lead in the global energy transition.
Longe described decarbonisation as not just a shift in technology but a power shift, noting that the continent must stop exporting raw resources while importing finished products.
She said: “If we want a just transition, we must stop thinking of women and Africa as beneficiaries of climate action. We are authors of the transition. We are investors, innovators, and architects of the new energy economy.
“Here in Abuja, we are not just gathering to repeat what has been said elsewhere. We are here to set a new tone — that decarbonization is not just a technology shift, but a power shift; that climate justice is not about charity, but about geopolitics; and that Africa must stop exporting raw resources and importing finished dreams.”
She however asked Africa to position itself as a leader in renewable energy and decentralized energy access.
The Chairperson of the Summit, Mrs. Toyin Yusuf, on her part said there is urgent need for policy frameworks that balance energy security with sustainability, while opening space for female professionals to contribute.
She explained that without deliberate policies to encourage women’s participation, Nigeria risks excluding a critical demographic from shaping its future energy mix.
She urged policymakers, industry stakeholders, and international partners to provide financing, build capacity, and create inclusive platforms that empower women in the sector.
The Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, Terseer Ugbor, also noted the importance of women in the clean energy transition and advocacy efforts.
He explained that the committee had visited gas flaring sites, engaged oil industry players, and was advancing a bill to penalise and stop gas flaring.
The bill, already at second reading, seeks tougher penalties for offenders and compensation for communities suffering health and environmental effects of gas flaring.
Ugbor assured that once passed, the bill would reduce incentives for gas flaring and push companies to invest in capturing and productively using the flared gas.
End
Nine PAP Foreign Scholarship Beneficiaries Bag Master’s Degrees From UK Varsities
•••771 to Graduate in Nigeria in 2025
•••Otuaro Hails Scholars’ Performances
By: Michael Mike
Nine students awarded foreign post-graduate scholarships by the Presidential Amnesty Programme have graduated from their master’s degree rprogrammes in universities in the United Kingdom.
The successful scholars are the first graduates in the offshore post-graduate scholarship deployment to UK institutions by the PAP Administrator, Dr Dennis Otuaro, for the 2024-2025 academic session.
They graduated from the Anglia Ruskin University, University of Dundee and The University of Law with master’s degrees in cyber security, data science and engineering, law, construction and civil engineering management, project management, and ICT.
Also, 711 undergraduate and post-graduate scholarship beneficiaries are expected to graduate from universities within Nigeria this year.
The PAP, on Wednesday, 3 December, 2025, organised a graduation reception for the scholars in London.
Otuaro has congratulated them on their successful graduation, stressing that they completed their programmes in record time which shows the seriousness they had put into their studies.
He said they have justified the Federal Government’s investment in their education with their successful graduation, and urged other beneficiaries not to be distracted in their academic pursuits.
“We congratulate these scholars on their successful graduation. It shows that they took their studies seriously. That is what we demand of every scholarship beneficiary, whether at the undergraduate or post-graduate level”, Otuaro said.
He reiterated his unwavering commitment to expanding the scholarship scheme to create more opportunities for indigent students of Niger Delta extraction to access higher education with a view to closing the human capital development gap in the region.
Otuaro said it was for this reason he deployed 3800 beneficiaries in-country in the 2024-2025 academic year, and increased the figure to 3900 in the 2025-2026 academic session with 200 for foreign scholarships.
Otuaro has so far deployed 7700 students for the PAP scholarship scheme within Nigeria in less than two years.
Within this period, also, he has also deployed 162 students from the region for post-graduate programmes in targeted disciplines in the UK universities.
According to him, this is in conformity with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu for the Niger Delta, who has given unprecedented support to the PAP because of his sincere love for the area.
The PAP boss said, “Our decision aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for the Niger Delta. We will continue to create more higher educational opportunities for students from indigent backgrounds in our region.
“We are also deepening the implementation of the programme’s mandate in informal education and other areas for the sustainable peace and socio-economic advancement of the region.”
Nine PAP Foreign Scholarship Beneficiaries Bag Master’s Degrees From UK Varsities
Sunshine Joint Venture Infrastructure Limited Established for Realization of Ondo Project
By: Michael Mike
Sunshine Joint Venture Infrastructure Limited has been incorporated to seamlessly allowed for the Refinery and Free Trade Zone in Ondo State.
A press statement on Thursday read that: “In furtherance of our commitment to the execution of these two major projects – Refinery and Free Trade Zone in conjunction with the Ondo State Government, the joint partners have taken another giant step by incorporating a joint company, namely – SUNSHINE JOINT VENTURE INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED – as the vehicle to be used in executing these projects. A move that further reinforces the sincerity of purpose and total commitment of the funding partners to move ahead together as a united front.
According to the release by Wale Adekola on behalf of the JV, the Sunshine Joint Venture Infrastructure Limitedwill, going forward serve as the vehicle to work with the Ondo State Government through the Ondo State Investment Promotion Agency (ONDIPA) in the implementation of the executed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).
The statement added that: “In moving the projects forward for implementation, the JV team met in Dubai to finalize the funding modalities and put in place structures and plans for the commencement of activities for ground breaking and community engagements. These initial activities are aimed at complementing the 50th Anniversary of the creation of Ondo State and the one year anniversary of the election of the Executive Governor of the Sunshine State, His Excellency, Chief Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa CFR.
At the Dubai meeting were key officers of the JV Company, including: Messrs SALEHI FARHAD; ZAHERI NAVID; EGHBAL KORDJAMSHIDI; SAHEED ZAHERI; DR. STEPHEN DIKE; HENRY OWONKA AND MRS. NAMVAR MARYAM.
The statement further informed that, plans have been concluded to mobilize the relevant contractors working with the locals and host communities to put up structures that will host the information center, architectural models to showcase the projects on offer and facilities that will serve the team. All these are being planned with ONDIPA to execute the relocation and accommodation of the host communities that are likely to be affected by the projects and create a seamless transition that will engender peaceful co-existence and harmonious relationship with our host communities.
The JV company further reiterated its commitment to work with Ondo State Government (through ONDIPA) to change the infrastructural landscape of the Sunshine State and for mutual benefits.
Sunshine Joint Venture Infrastructure Limited Established for Realization of Ondo Project
Edo: Seven suspected bandits arrested along Benin-Agbor Road
By: Zagazola Makama
Seven suspected bandits were arrested along the Benin–Agbor Road in Edo State during stop-and-search operations, security sources confirmed.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the suspects, all Fulani youths, were intercepted after being offloaded from a truck at about 1800 hours on 2 December 2025. A search revealed pictures of assault rifles, including AK-47s, on their mobile phones.
Upon interrogation, the suspects claimed to have travelled from Adamawa State. Investigations are ongoing for the possible recovery of actual firearms and to determine their involvement in criminal activities.
Security agencies have urged members of the public to report any suspicious movements to help prevent criminal acts in the area.
Edo: Seven suspected bandits arrested along Benin-Agbor Road
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