The Director-General of Nigeria’s National Council on Climate Change, Dr. Majekodunmi Omotenioye, has advocated for a pragmatic and Africa-centric energy transition strategy that utilises natural gas as a transitional fuel to drive industrialisation without compromising the continent’s commitments to global climate action.
Dr. Omotenioye delivered the keynote address at the recently concluded three-day Green Conference 2026, organised by Greenplinth Africa in Lagos. The event, held under the theme “Decarbonising Africa: Pathway to Climate Finance, Sustainable Growth and Green Economy,” brought together policymakers, climate experts, representatives from state governments, development partners, private sector leaders, and civil society organisations to explore practical pathways for low-carbon development across the continent.
In her presentation, the climate chief highlighted the distinct dilemma confronting African nations: the urgent need to rapidly industrialise and expand energy access to lift millions out of poverty, while simultaneously aligning with international climate obligations that demand steep emissions reductions. She pointed out that most developed economies achieved their industrial revolutions using high-carbon fuels without facing equivalent external pressure to decarbonise concurrently.
“Africa faces a unique challenge of pursuing rapid industrial growth while simultaneously reducing carbon emissions—an energy transition that many developed economies did not confront during their own industrialisation phases,” Omotenioye stated, according to a release issued on Sunday by the organisers.
She argued that natural gas, as a relatively cleaner fossil fuel compared to coal and oil, should serve as a strategic bridge in Africa’s energy mix. The approach would enable the continent to:
Provide reliable, affordable baseload power to support manufacturing, mining, agriculture processing, and other industrial activities.
Expand electricity access to millions of households and businesses currently off-grid or underserved.
Reduce reliance on more polluting fuels such as diesel generators and traditional biomass.
Gradually scale up renewables, energy efficiency measures, and emerging low-carbon technologies as infrastructure and financing become available.
Omotenioye stressed that this pragmatic pathway must be supported by scaled-up international climate finance, technology transfer, and capacity building — commitments she said have so far fallen short of what is required for Africa to transition equitably and effectively. She called on global partners to recognise Africa’s development imperatives and provide adequate, predictable, and accessible funding to match the continent’s ambition.
The Green Conference 2026 featured panel discussions, technical sessions, and high-level dialogues on critical topics including mobilising climate finance, scaling renewable energy deployment, building resilient infrastructure, promoting green industrialisation, and integrating nature-based solutions into national development plans.
Participants included representatives from federal and state governments, multilateral development banks, international climate funds, energy companies, research institutions, and youth and women-led climate organisations.
The conference concluded with renewed calls for African governments to adopt integrated energy and climate policies that prioritise both economic sovereignty and environmental stewardship, while urging the international community to honour existing climate finance pledges and create new mechanisms tailored to Africa’s unique circumstances.
Dr. Omotenioye’s remarks reinforce Nigeria’s evolving position as a leading voice in African climate diplomacy — advocating for equity, justice, and realism in the global energy transition debate. As the continent hosts growing populations, expanding urban centres, and rising industrial ambitions, the push for natural gas as a transitional fuel is expected to remain a central element in Africa’s climate and development discourse in the years ahead.
