Lagos State has joined an expanding list of global stakeholders confirmed for participation in the Nigeria Climate Investment Summit (NCIS), scheduled to take place in London on June 23 as part of the prestigious London Climate Action Week (LCAW).
Organisers of the summit, GLOBE Legislators and SOStainability, announced on Thursday that the increasing international interest in the event underscores Nigeria’s growing reputation as an attractive destination for climate finance and green investments.
According to recent figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the United Kingdom remains Nigeria’s largest source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), contributing approximately $12.21 billion between 2023 and 2025. The inflow has been linked to sustained diplomatic and economic engagements championed by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The summit is designed to unlock financing opportunities for bankable green projects across Nigeria, with a particular focus on states such as Lagos that have demonstrated leadership in climate governance and environmental policy implementation.
NCIS enjoys the backing of several prominent international institutions, including the Commonwealth Secretariat, United Nations Sustainable Energy for All (SEforAll), British International Investment (BII), and the Worshipful Company of Fuellers of the City of London.
A distinguished lineup of speakers and moderators has been confirmed for the event. They include Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu; Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and President-Designate of COP32, Gedion Timothewos; former UK High Commissioner to Nigeria and current UN Special Representative for Somalia, Catriona Laing; and Damilola Ogunbiyi, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Co-Chair of UN-Energy.
Others expected at the summit are Suresh Yadav, Senior Director for Climate Change and Oceans at the Commonwealth Secretariat; Ashutosh Shastri, Master Fueller of the Worshipful Company of Fuellers; and climate policy expert Prof. Chukwumerije Okereke.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is expected to lead a high-powered Lagos State delegation to the summit, accompanied by senior government officials, including the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab.
A major highlight of Lagos State’s participation will be the unveiling of plans to host Africa’s first-ever Climate Action Week. The initiative would place Lagos alongside leading global cities such as London, New York, Shanghai, Sydney, Rio de Janeiro, and Baku, all of which host annual climate-focused events that attract policymakers, investors, and sustainability experts.
The Lagos delegation is expected to engage with global investors, development finance institutions, multilateral agencies, regulators, diaspora investment networks, and businesses exploring opportunities in Nigeria’s growing green economy.
The summit will also examine investment prospects across renewable energy and energy transition projects, leveraging recent policy developments such as Nigeria’s National Carbon Market Framework, updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Climate Action Plan, and the implementation of the Electricity Act 2023.
Organisers say the event aims to strengthen Nigeria’s position as a preferred destination for climate finance and sustainable investments, facilitate strategic partnerships, promote renewable energy development, and support preparations for COP31 in Antalya, Turkey.
The summit is jointly convened by SOStainability, a UK-based sustainability consulting firm, and GLOBE Legislators, the parliamentary focal point of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
SOStainability will also unveil its Sustainability Policy & Practice Spotlight (SPPS), a framework designed to assess environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance, climate policy alignment, and sustainability integration among Nigerian businesses.
Speaking on Lagos State’s participation, SOStainability Chief Executive Officer, Oke Epia, praised Governor Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to leveraging global climate opportunities for economic growth.
He said the governor’s decision to participate in the summit demonstrates Lagos State’s determination to attract investment and strengthen its leadership role in climate action, adding that the planned climate engagement initiative would represent a groundbreaking first for Africa.
