Business
RMAFC Hosts First African Conference On Climate Justice
Joel Ajayi
The Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), in partnership with the Center for African-American Research Studies (CAARS), convened the First African Conference on Climate Justice at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, 30th July 2025.
The Conference, themed “Strategic Access, Mobilisation, and Equitable Allocation of Global Climate Funds for Vulnerable Populations,” brought together academicians, policymakers, civil society actors, traditional rulers, and international development experts.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the RMAFC Chairman, Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu, OFR, the Federal Commissioner representing Kwara State, Hon. Ismail Mohammed Agaka welcomed participants to what he described as a landmark international conference on climate justice. He said, “While RMAFC’s mandate differs from that of CAARS, both energy and climate challenges are common concerns, and our collective efforts towards solving these challenges guarantee timely and better results.”
Dr. Shehu commended CAARS for considering RMAFC a strategic partner in the global discussion around climate finance.
“The relevance of this collaboration will unfold through the thought-provoking presentations and discussions that will follow,” he stated.The Chairman further said that global energy funding for vulnerable African populations is essential to achieving sustainable development.
He emphasized the importance of recent constitutional reforms in Nigeria, which moved electricity from the exclusive list to the concurrent legislative list. The Chairman observed that the reform would enable subnational governments to generate and distribute power and position the nation to better access and deploy global climate funds at all levels.
He expressed confidence that the deliberations and recommendations of the conference would significantly support ongoing efforts to address national and global climate challenges.
In his keynote address, Prof. Nnamdi Nwaodu, Director General of CAARS and Chief Convener of the conference, stressed that Africa must move from the margins to the centre of global climate finance discussions. He urged participants to develop frameworks rooted in fairness, asserting that “climate justice means ensuring that vulnerable communities do not continue to suffer the most while contributing the least to climate change.
In his words, “We are not here to rehearse the known statistics of environmental harm—we are here to act. It’s time to claim our seat at the table and design climate finance frameworks that reflect our continent’s realities.”
The conference featured rich academic and technical discussions, including presentations from renowned experts such as Prof. Ignatius Onimawo, former Vice Chancellor of Ambrose Alli University who presented a paper on addressing climate adaptation, governance, and resilience in Africa;Arc. Steve Nwaiwu, Principal Consultant at Delish Nature & Wellness Africa who spoke on the topic “Nature, wellness, and Green Infrastructure for Urban Africa.”HRH Eze Dr. Okechukwu Izim, a traditional ruler and Head of the Department of Political Science at Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education presented two separate papers; “Cultural Reflections on Environmental Justice” and, “Climate Policy and African Political Economy.” Dr. Nwarieji Felistas Director Center for Circular Economy Technology Education was also in attendance.
A panel session moderated by civil society leaders and youth climate advocates focused on climate finance, local needs, and community resilience.
Agriculture
PULA, Leadway Assurance Disburse ₦396 Million to Climate-Affected Farmers, Strengthen Food Security Efforts
In a major intervention to shield smallholder farmers from climate shocks, agri-insurtech firm PULA has spearheaded the disbursement of ₦396,697,672 in insurance claims to over 40,000 farmers impacted during the 2025 wet season.
The payout, executed in partnership with Leadway Assurance and supported by the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU), covered farmers across Taraba, Borno, Kaduna, and Plateau States who suffered climate-related losses.
The initiative was made possible in part by Bayer Foundation, whose $450,000 premium subsidy support in 2025 wet season helped lower the cost of insurance for thousands of vulnerable smallholders in 8 states, with 4 states receiving payouts. The Foundation is set to scale up its contribution to match the growing aspirations of state governments.
Speaking at the cheque presentation ceremony in Abuja during the 2025 Wet Season Insurance Claims Payout under the National Agribusiness Planning Mechanism (NAPM), PULA’s Nigeria Country Director, Dr. Michael Enahoro, said the initiative goes beyond compensation, insisting that it’s about securing Nigeria’s food systems.
“Our focus is not just on payouts but on increasing food production. We must continue to support farmers who work tirelessly under harsh conditions to feed the nation,” Dr. Enahoro said. He called for stronger policies that directly impact farmers and reaffirmed PULA’s commitment to expanding agricultural insurance as a tool for resilience.
PULA’s data-driven approach to climate risk was key to identifying affected farmers and triggering payments. The company worked with Leadway Assurance to underwrite the risk, while PFSCU aligned the program with the national food security agenda. State governments also supported grassroots enrollment.
Gboyega Lesi, MD/CEO of Leadway Assurance, described the payout as “a reinforcement of a safety net that protects the hard work of thousands of farmers,” adding that “through climate insurance, we ensure that a bad season does not translate into total loss of livelihood.” He commended PULA’s technology and field structure for making rapid, transparent payouts possible.
Ayoola Fatona, Global Head of Agric Solutions at Leadway Assurance, noted that the 2025 wet season brought significant climate variability and yield fluctuations. “The true value of insurance lies in claims payment, especially in challenging periods. Our data-driven partnership with PULA helped mitigate losses,” he said.
Looking ahead, PULA and Leadway Assurance plan to scale coverage to 73,000 farmers in the 2026 farming season, deepening penetration of climate insurance across Nigeria’s food-producing belts.
Commissioners from the beneficiary states commended PULA and Leadway Assurance for de-risking agriculture, restoring farmers’ confidence, and building a more resilient agricultural sector
State-by-state breakdown of claims facilitated by PULA:
- Taraba State: ₦154,308,035
- Borno State: ₦127,192,472
- Kaduna State: ₦69,726,150
- Plateau State: ₦45,471,015
Total: ₦396.7 million.
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