Education
Delta to drive subnational climate finance transition, convenes stakeholders for high-level CDFIP workshop – EnviroNews
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The Delta State Government has formally commenced the stakeholders’ workshop for the Delta State Climate and Development Finance and Investment Platform (CDFIP) at the Conference Hall, Cluster C, Prof. Chike Edozien Secretariat Complex in Asaba on September 21, 2026.
Convened by the Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP) and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement (UKFCDO-PACE), with funding from the African Climate Foundation (ACF), the high-level stakeholder workshop signalles a strategic transition from environmental ambition to structured, investment-ready capital mobilisation.
Delivering the welcome address, the Commissioner for Environment, Moses Ogodo, affirmed the state’s political commitment to institutional reform and ecological resilience. Ogodo underscored that Delta State must proactively tackle persistent flood vulnerabilities, coastal erosion, and energy access challenges through structured, multi-sector partnerships that turn ecological obligations into bankable opportunities.
He said, “The Delta State Government recognises that climate change is no longer simply an environmental concern. It is increasingly a development, economic, infrastructure, energy, agricultural, public-health and investment issue.
“Consequently, our response must go beyond climate policy statements to the development of practical projects, appropriate institutions, credible data systems and sustainable financing mechanisms. The ultimate measure of this initiative should not merely be the number of meetings held or officials trained, but the extent to which we can build lasting institutional capacity, develop credible investment opportunities and mobilise actual resources.”
The Commissioner for Environment, on behalf of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Kingsley Emu, declared the workshop open. He emphasised that the CDFIP directly aligns with the MORE Agenda of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration, charging all participating Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to take institutional ownership and dismantle any operational silos.
“The commencement of CDFIP presents Delta State with an opportunity to move from climate ambition to climate investment, from project concept to bankable projects, and from fragmented intervention to coordinated investment mobilization,” the SSG’s representative declared. “We are particularly committed to ensuring that the priority projects selected under this program are capable of progressing beyond the conceptual stage towards investment readiness, and ultimately financing and implementation.”
While opening the morning’s institutional framing, Professor Ogheneruona Diemuodeke, Technical Expert Lead for SPP and Professor of Energy and Climate Change Technology Systems, provided a comprehensive overview of the platform, highlighting Delta State’s strategic position alongside Enugu and Niger states as one of only three pioneer subnationals selected nationwide to implement the model.
The Technical sessions commenced with a joint presentation titled “Unlocking Climate Finance in Delta State: The Journey So Far,” delivered by Ms Rachel Illah and Mr Basil Obasi of PACE. Mr. Obasi demonstrated that climate finance cannot be treated merely as environmental grant funding, but as a diverse blend of domestic public appropriations, concessional development finance institution (DFI) facilities, green bonds, and private equity. Highlighting PACE’s Climate Finance Readiness Assessment (CFRA) toolkit, the presenters revealed the diagnostic results across Delta State’s six core readiness pillars.
Delivering his presentation on n “Requirements for Bankability of Climate Projects”, Prof. Diemuodeke highlighted Nigeria’s severe international climate funding deficit: while the country requires between $171 billion and $175 billion annually to meet its goals, it captures only $2.5 billion (1.41%), with subnational allocations securing just about 4% of localised resilience needs. He stressed that bankability is the decisive bridge between aspirational concepts and financed assets.
Outlining the five core pillars of bankability- technical robustness, revenue certainty, legal and regulatory clarity, appropriate risk allocation, and robust ESG compliance- he urged policymakers to utilise techno-economic metrics to de-risk deals. Prof. Diemuodeke showcased illustrative project models customised for Delta State to demonstrate tangible applications further.
Participants were assigned to three breakout Technical Working Group sessions facilitated by Mr Ifeanyi Mbah, Mr Ayodeji Omilabu and Mr Uchenna Nnamani to screen and structure prioritised pipeline projects for bankability in the state, with a mandate to develop a 90-day action plan on the implementation of the bankable projects and the roadmaps to achieving them:
The roadmap is expected to outline immediate milestones including CDFIP governance structure, technical project clinics, pipeline profiling, and preparations for domestic and international investor matchmaking.
Proceedings concluded with closing commitments from both the Delta State Government and SPP leadership, cementing Delta’s position at the forefront of subnational green growth and climate capital mobilisation in Nigeria. The workshop was moderated by Mrs Vivian Briggs, the Director of Climate Change, Ministry of Environment, Delta State.
By Ayodeji Omilabu, SPP
