President Tinubu Addresses World Leaders at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Summit
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has addressed world leaders and international stakeholders at the 2026
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) Summit, highlighting Nigeria’s commitment to climate action,
sustainable development and green finance.
The summit, a global forum that brings together heads of state, policymakers, business leaders and
experts to discuss strategies for addressing climate change and fostering sustainable economic growth,
is taking place in Abu Dhabi under the theme “The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go.”
During his address, Tinubu emphasised that climate action is central to Nigeria’s development agenda
and that deeper cooperation with international partners is essential to accelerate the country’s energy
transition and climate resilience.
He outlined Nigeria’s objectives for increasing access to green financing, advancing technology transfer,
and strengthening partnerships that support sustainable energy and infrastructure.
Tinubu urged the global community to make climate finance more accessible to developing nations,
stressing that equitable access to funds, technology and innovation is critical for countries like Nigeria to
meet their climate targets without compromising economic growth and social priorities.
“Developing countries require equitable climate finance, accessible technologies, and robust capacity
building to support true climate commitments without losing focus on advancing their developments
and priorities,” he said.
In his remarks, the Nigerian leader also highlighted the country’s energy transition strategy, which
integrates climate mitigation, industrial growth and social development under a cohesive framework.
He underscored the importance of modernising infrastructure, deploying clean technologies and
fostering renewable energy investments to ensure sustainability while boosting economic productivity.
President Tinubu took the opportunity to outline Nigeria’s climate investment platform, which is
designed to unlock significant capital for climate-resilient infrastructure.
The platform seeks to mobilise funds, including a $2 billion National Climate Change Fund and up to $30
billion annually in blended climate and green finance, to support clean energy, resilient infrastructure
and sustainable industrialisation.
His address also coincided with the signing of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates, intended to deepen bilateral cooperation across
renewable energy, agriculture, infrastructure, logistics and digital trade.
The agreement is expected to create broader opportunities for trade and investment, while fostering
sustainability-related economic growth.
The summit, which runs through January 15, 2026, has drawn global attention as a platform for dialogue
and action on sustainability.
World leaders, including UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, have reiterated their
commitment to international collaboration in tackling climate change, innovation and sustainable
development challenges.
President Tinubu’s participation reflects Nigeria’s effort to play a proactive role in shaping the
international climate agenda and to attract partnerships and investments that align with both national
and global sustainability goals.
By Oyinkansola Shittu.
