Shettima seeks climate change pan-African collaboration

Vice-President Kashim Shettima, yesterday, implored African nations to unite in addressing climate change and social impact challenges facing the continent.

He also called on leaders of the continent to work towards developing sustainable practices that seek to protect ecosystems as a means of securing a greener future and springboard for the continent’s overall development and progress in the face of existential climate realities.

Shettima, while speaking during the Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS) 2024 in Lagos, represented by Special Adviser to the President on Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, stressed the urgency of collaborative action.

The Vice President, in his keynote address, said that the brunt of climate change that Africa faces can only be mitigated if we stand together, noting that climate change is an existential issue, as well as an elephant in every social impact room.

Shettima, who emphasised the need for joint efforts in climate change mitigation and adaptation, as well as technological innovation in the agriculture and energy sectors, stressed the importance of investing in quality education and skills development across the continent.

“Whatever blueprints we promote must focus on innovation. That’s the compass of social impact.

“We may gather in meeting rooms and conferences to philosophise about changing our world, but the truth remains that we can never guarantee social impact without an educated society,” Shettima stated.

He called for investments in quality education, vocational training, and lifelong learning, and also reiterated the need to equip African youths with relevant skills for the digital age.

The Vice President described education as “the bridge to a system that works” and “the secret ingredient of every development.”

He praised Lagos as a model for successful urban development and public-private partnerships, noting that “Lagos is a template for the synergy of private and public sectors to build a system that works.”

The Vice President, therefore, called for a unified approach to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adding that “only as a unified front can we create an all-inclusive approach to achieving the SDGs and deliver social impact across the board.”