By Danjuama Amodu
Attention is shifting from climate pledges to practical delivery as Africa confronts the realities of financing, coordination and execution, organisers of the Africa Climate Forum (ACF) 2026 have said.
The Forum will bring together policymakers, business leaders, climate practitioners, development institutions and other stakeholders on 13-14 October 2026 at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.
Organised by the Global Centre for Law, Business and Economy (GCLBE), the fourth edition is themed “Implementing in Lockstep: Public-Private Action for Green Outcomes” and will hold both in-person and virtually with participants from across Africa and beyond.
The Forum will focus on how policy, investment, enterprise and institutions can work together more effectively to move climate priorities from commitment to delivery.
High-Level Participation Expected
Organisers said the event will draw a broad mix of high-profile executives, policymakers and industry experts.
From Left to Right: Her Excellency Pascaline Gerengbo Yakivu, Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to Nigeria; His Excellency Amb. Isaac Parashina, High Commissioner of Kenya to Nigeria; Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment; Prof. George Nwangwu, Convener, Africa Climate Forum; Dr. Oge Funlola Modie, Founder/Executive Chair, Avocado Holdings; and Michael Ivenso, Director of Energy, Transportation and Infrastructure, National Council on Climate Change (NCCC).
Among those expected are Ambassador Philbert Abaka Johnson, Director and UNIDO Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS; Mr Olasupo Shasore, SAN, Senior Partner at Africa Law Practice NG & Company; Hon. Sam Onuigbo, Governing Board Member and Chairman, Committee on Security, Special Interventions and Climate Change at the North East Development Commission; Dr Salisu Dahiru, former Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change; and Engr. Chijioke Okwuokenye, Managing Director of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company.
Its pan-African and international reach will also be reflected in contributions from Dr Forster Boateng, Managing Director of C4Impact Advisory Group; Dr Gloria Boamah Kusi, Senior Sustainability Officer at the Jospong Green Transition Office; Dr Debany Fonseca Batista, Research Associate at Dalhousie University’s, Laboratory and Executive Director of the DOTCAN Institute; and Claudette Hutchinson, Chief Executive Officer and AI Implementation Architect at Owning My.
Focus on Delivery, Finance and Partnerships
According to Prof. George Nwangwu, Convener of the Africa Climate Forum and Director General of GCLBE, the emphasis on implementation reflects the need for stronger coordination among institutions responsible for turning ambition into results.
“Climate action requires more than ambition. It requires governments, businesses and financial institutions to move together. We have an opportunity to refine our partnerships, forge new ones, and make bold commitments that can translate into meaningful action,” he said.
Across the two days, plenary discussions will examine practical issues shaping Africa’s transition, including the role of private enterprise, the future of carbon markets, energy access and natural gas, food security and adaptation, community-led climate action, human rights and just transition, as well as the use of artificial intelligence, data and digital technologies to improve planning and delivery.
Deal Room and Journalism Side Event
Beyond plenaries, the ACF Deal Room will provide a direct meeting point for climate project developers, green businesses, investors and financial institutions. The initiative, running across both days, is designed to connect promising climate solutions with potential partners and capital.
The programme will also feature a dedicated Pulitzer Centre side event on Journalism, Climate Action and Civic Space Engagement, examining how public-interest journalism can strengthen climate accountability, improve public understanding and amplify the experiences of climate-affected communities.
The Abuja Forum follows ACF climate conversations held in Accra earlier this year, where stakeholders examined partnerships, climate finance, just transition approaches and public-private collaboration.
Since its first edition in 2023, the Africa Climate Forum has convened perspectives from policy, business, investment and development on Africa’s climate response. The 2026 edition builds on that foundation by placing implementation at the centre.
