By Adesewa Oyinloye
The sponsor of Nigeria’s Climate Change Act 2021– often referred to as the “Sam Onuigbo Act— and Governing Board Member and Chairman Committee on Security, Special Interventions, and Climate Change, of the North East Development Commission(NEDC), Hon. Sam Onuigbo has been nominated as part of the Climate Action 30 Global Leaders 2023.
This is part of Business Insider’s One Planet program .Conveying Onuigbo’s nomination, Lily Katzman, Editor, Special Projects, of the Business Insider said: “We’re excited about honoring you and your work on an issue as urgent as the climate crisis — one that our audience cares deeply about…Climate Action 30 identifies 30 of the top global activists, business leaders, academics, community leaders, and others from around the world who are working toward climate and environmental solutions.”
The nomination is in recognition of Onuigbo’s inspiring work as a climate leader in Africa which has seen him sponsor and push for assent of the Nigerian Climate Change Act 2021; drive legislative action on climate change across Africa and the world; and persistently champion the mainstreaming of climate considerations in development plans through lectures, papers, and lobbying.
Responding to the nomination, Hon. Onuigbo expressed his happiness that people recognise the sacrifice and hard work that went into the enactment of the Climate Change Act. He thanked God and all the people who contributed and supported the process.
The former National lawmaker joins an impressive list of Climate Action leaders including last year’s winners: Lioz EtgarProfessor of Chemistry, Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Jerome Foster II, White House climate advisor and environmental-justice activist; Sônia Guajajara, Leader, Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil; Sophia Kianni, US representative on the United Nations’ Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change and founder, Climate Cardinals; amongst others
The former National Assembly member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, had earlier been inducted into the first ever National Assembly Most Valuable Parliamentarian Hall of Fame.
He was part of the five Senators/Members out of the 469 members of the 9th National Assembly to be so honoured and only Rep. or Senator from Southern part of Nigeria to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
