South-South youths demand establishment of regional youth climate fund
As climate crisis in the South South part of Nigeria deepens, youths from the zone have called for the establishment of Regional Youth Climate Fund that would support innovative projects, leveraging Artificial Intelligence for green transformation and fund management.
They made the call at the end of the 2025 South-South Regional Local Conference of Youth, LCOY Nigeria, organized by Clement Isong Foundation in partnership with ActionAid Nigeria, LCOY Nigeria, and YOUNGO.
The event which held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State had the theme, ‘Youth at the Forefront of Climate Justice: Accelerating Action for a Just Transition’.
The youths regretted their non-inclusion at the decision making spaces despite being the key drivers of transition-leading solutions for climate justice and sustainable livelihoods.
They also called on governments and private actors to move from policy drafting to implementation saying, climate crisis cannot be solved by playing at the gallery or mere rhetorics.
Parts of the statement read, “We demand institutionalization of youth representation in environmental policy councils as well as the establishment of a Regional Youth Climate Fund to support innovative projects, leveraging AI for transparency in fund management.
“Youth are key drivers of the Just Transition — leading solutions for climate justice, energy transition, and sustainable livelihoods. Climate justice is a moral and human rights issue that demands intergenerational collaboration and inclusive governance.”
In his remarks, the Executive Director of Clement Isong Foundation, CIF, Elkanah Oluyori, challenged the youths to take ownership of climate solutions rather than wait to be included even as he harped on the need for courage, innovation, and leadership in building sustainable alternatives.
On her part, Dr. Caroline Gordian, Project Lead of CIF, while delivering an overview of the Strategic Partnership Agreement II (SPA II) project, implemented by ActionAid Nigeria in partnership with DANIDA observed that when youths are equipped with the right tools and platforms, “they become active creators of change, not passive recipients of aid.”
The Keynote Speaker, Mr. Tijah Bolton-Akpan who is the Executive Director of Policy Alert, called for justice-centered climate action, accountability in the fossil fuel sector, and youth inclusion in policy frameworks.
He also cautioned against what he described as “false climate solutions” calling for transparency in climate finance and equitable representation of frontline communities.