The Federal Government has urged developed nations to honour their commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Paris Agreement by supporting technology transfer and innovation in developing countries.

Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Teni Majekodunmi, made the call at the Validation Workshop for Nigeria's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) 3.0 in Abuja. She stressed the importance of localising innovation and equipping Nigerian entrepreneurs, researchers and start-ups with skills to adapt and develop technologies that address the country's climate challenges.

Nigeria's updated NDC highlights a multibillion-dollar financing gap needed to implement mitigation and adaptation measures across critical sectors, including energy, agriculture, forestry and land use, transportation, oil and gas, industry, water resources and health.

Majekodunmi explained that the new NDC builds on previous versions while aligning with the Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) and the Nigeria Energy Transition Plan (ETP). "The NDC is the cornerstone of our national efforts under the Paris Agreement, a collective commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen resilience," she said.

She also called for increased domestic financing, alongside access to international climate funds such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Adaptation Fund and public-private partnerships.

According to her, sustained capacity building, South-South cooperation and investment in human capital are essential for climate risk assessment, monitoring and reporting, as well as socially inclusive, gender-responsive actions.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Climate Finance and Stakeholder Engagement, Ibrahim Shelleng, said the NDC 3.0 serves as Nigeria's pathway to green growth and inclusive development. "Aligning with the president's agenda, climate action must translate into job creation, poverty reduction, improved public health and sustainable economic development," he noted.

UNDP Nigeria's Deputy Resident Representative, Varsha Redkar-Palepu, described NDCs as the backbone of global climate progress, stressing that Africa contributes least to emissions but suffers most from climate shocks.

She said Nigeria, as Africa's largest economy, carries both responsibility and opportunity to lead by example, and pledged UNDP's support in mobilising finance, strengthening capacity and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.