The Lagos State Government has announced that its 2025 International Climate Change Summit (LICCS) will focus on unlocking sustainable financing and fostering innovation to strengthen Africa’s coastal resilience and blue economy.
The state’s Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this on Thursday at a press briefing in Lagos ahead of the summit, scheduled to hold from November 6 to 7, 2025.
Wahab said the summit, themed “Blue Economy, Green Money: Financing Africa’s Coastal Resilience and Ocean Innovation,” will serve as a strategic platform for governments, investors, and global development partners to design actionable solutions to climate-related challenges.
“Lagos, as a coastal megacity, faces increasing threats from flooding, coastal erosion, and rising sea levels, but we are determined to turn those challenges into opportunities for economic growth and environmental sustainability,” he said.
According to the commissioner, over 1,200 delegates from across Africa and beyond — including global CEOs, financiers, researchers, and young innovators — are expected to attend the summit, which will highlight four key pillars: blue economy, green finance, innovation and youth empowerment, and partnerships.
“Our goal is to make Lagos the climate capital of Africa, a city that not only adapts to change but leads it,” Wahab said, adding that the summit would position Lagos as a continental climate leadership hub ahead of the COP30 global conference.
He acknowledged the support of major partners such as Eko Atlantic, NIMASA, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for their roles in advancing sustainable development initiatives in Lagos.
“Through this summit, Lagos is sending a clear message: Africa is not waiting to be rescued; we are ready to lead,” Wahab declared.
Also speaking, Ms. Joanna Fabikun, Head of Corporate Communications at Eko Atlantic City, described the city as a model of resilience against climate-induced erosion. She noted that the project was initiated to address decades-long coastal erosion threatening Victoria Island and other parts of Lagos.
Mr. Michael Bankole, Technical Lead for the summit, explained that the two-day event would feature technical sessions and high-level panel discussions addressing the economic, environmental, and policy dimensions of climate change.
“The sessions will explore how to catalyse market-driven climate solutions, strengthen economic systems, and influence policy direction in line with the Federal Government’s climate adaptation agenda,” he said.
In his remarks, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), represented by Mr. Tuti Hebron, reaffirmed the agency’s partnership with the ministry in hosting the event.
He noted that the summit would open up new opportunities for entrepreneurs to explore Lagos’ potential in coastal tourism, fishing, and marine resource development, while promoting wealth creation and job opportunities across the blue economy value chain.