PACJA Platform in Nigeria Signs MOU with University

The Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) platform in Nigeria has acquired a partner with whom it will track the status of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in line with the Paris Agreement in its attempt to track climate governance locally.

The platform, Climate and Sustainable Development Network (CSDevNet) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Alex Ekwueme Federal University (AEFUNAI), Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo.

Mr Pius Oko, the CSDevNet Project Officer, made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja after the MoU signing ceremony.

The MoU establishes a framework of cooperation, understanding and collaboration between the two parties. This partnership will enhance the two parties’ shared goals and objectives, for coordination and cooperation on joint policy research, and capacity building on Nigeria’s NDCs.

Oko, who with Ms Enogba Ende, the Head of Finance at CSDevNet, represented PACJA at the signing ceremony, said the university would conduct a study on some aspects of Nigeria’s NDCs.

“This MoU between CSDevNet, which is the national chapter of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, and AEFUNAI, seek holistic solutions to common environmental challenges in Nigeria. This is in line with our focal emphasis on promoting and advocating pro-poor, climate-friendly and equity-based responses to climate change and sustainable development in Nigeria,” said Oko.

He averred that sequel to the MoU, CSDevNet was engaging the university to research the status of climate governance in Nigeria.

Oko said this would help identify gaps and yield recommendations that specifically address issues about Nigeria.

“This study will focus on Energy (Nigeria’s National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Action Plan) in Nigeria’s NDCs between 2018 and 2020; examining the compliance practice to implementation of the Paris Agreement.

“Also, the study is expected to yield recommendations that will inform the implementation of the long-term commitments of the NDCs to the Paris Agreement as submitted by Nigeria and other West Africa countries, including situational analysis of the effects on Covid-19,” he said.