…Society for Planet and Prosperity pledges technical expertise and stronger coordination to empower state governments on climate finance, policy design, and global visibility.
By Bunmi Yekini
When floodwaters submerge farmlands or desert winds eat into once-green pastures, it’s not Abuja that feels it firs, it’s the states. Yet, the commissioners tasked with leading climate and environmental responses in these states have long struggled in the shadows: underfunded, underrepresented, and often working in isolation.
But that may be changing.
In a renewed effort to close the yawning gap between national climate policies and local realities, the Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP) convened a landmark meeting of State Commissioners for Environment and Climate Change. Brought together under the banner of the Conference of Commissioners of Environment and Climate Change, the meeting aims to equip subnational leaders with the tools, coordination, and visibility they need to take climate governance into their own hands, and onto the global stage.
This latest initiative reflects SPP’s broader mission of empowering grassroots climate actors through collaboration, capacity building, and access to climate finance.
Welcoming the participants, Mr. Gboyega Olorunfemi, Project Lead at SPP, who represented the SPP President, Prof. Chukwumerije Okereke, highlighted persistent governance and capacity gaps across Nigeria’s 36 states—gaps that have held back impactful climate solutions.
“Through our collaborative work, we have identified key constraints limiting your ability to deliver effective climate governance,” Olorunfemi said. “This is why SPP has decided to support and collaborate with you, to ensure your states can attract climate finance, design robust policies, and participate meaningfully in national and international forums.”
To that end, he announced SPP’s plan to strengthen the Conference’s secretariat by deploying a dedicated technical expert to coordinate climate activities across the states more efficiently.
Presiding over the session, Chief Mrs. Tosin Aluko-Ajisafe, Hon. Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Ekiti State, and Chairperson of the Conference, expressed gratitude for the milestone and urged her fellow commissioners to seize the opportunity.
“Today marks the culmination of several discussions and follow-ups, and I am glad that we are making progress as a team,” she said. “This is a great opportunity to enhance our productivity leveraging the technical expertise of SPP. I urge my colleagues to be fully committed as we support our Governors in achieving climate and environmental goals.”
Commissioners and technical advisors from multiple states echoed her sentiments, praising SPP’s role in catalyzing inclusive, bottom-up climate action.
Dr. Olly Owens, Technical Advisor on Forestry Management and Climate Change to the Governor of Ekiti State, emphasized the need for integration.
“Working in silos has watered down our efforts,” he observed. “It will be good to help all of the states link together to access opportunities. Also, the voice of the subnational is not being considered. Much of the COP and UN architecture is built around national governments. We need more pathways to interact with these structures.”
Dr. Felix Odimegwu, Commissioner for Environment, Anambra State, emphasized that the new platform could fast-track development in less-resourced states.
“This platform will go a long way in bringing states up to speed on available options and capacities. It can help weaker states develop more quickly,” he said. “Anambra is fully committed to making this a success.”
From the southeast to the northeast, states shared experiences of local climate actions already in motion.
In Enugu, Prof. Sam Ugwu, Commissioner for Environment, noted the state’s recent launch of a climate policy and called for implementation support.
“I am particularly interested in the issue of climate funding. Now that we have launched our policy, the next step is implementation. We need this coordination from your organisation to support our efforts,” he said.
Mrs Aishat Barde, Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Taraba State, acknowledged SPP’s pivotal role in helping develop the state’s first Climate Change Policy and Action Plan.
“Taraba is ready for the official launch and is committed to working closely with SPP and our partners to drive impactful climate action,” she stated.
Mr. Chris Ike, speaking on behalf of Hon. Philemon Asonye Ogbonna, Commissioner for Environment, Abia State, underscored the dire need for subnational climate finance.
“Poor financing for climate action remains abysmally low at the state level. We look forward to the support from SPP to prioritise access to climate finance,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Chukwu Victor Uzoma, Commissioner for Environment, Ebonyi State, expressed confidence in the partnership and pledged his state’s openness to collaboration.
“We commend the coordinating Commissioner and SPP. Ebonyi is ready and willing to collaborate and develop through this platform.”
The Society for Planet and Prosperity has a track record of pioneering subnational climate governance initiatives in Nigeria—from publishing the country’s first Climate Governance Performance Rating of all 36 states to supporting the development of climate action plans in Enugu and Taraba, and building platforms for state-level policy dialogue and training.