Annual CoSET Meeting: Coalition members strategize socioecological advocacy

The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Nigeria hosted members of the Coalition for Socioecological Transformation of Nigeria (CoSET) in a two-day brainstorming session in Lagos, to bolster their #EndGasFlaringNow campaign, discuss approaches to tackle climate-induced food security challenges, and strengthen collaboration with Nigeria Trade Unions.

The in-person meeting saw coalition representatives deliver feedback from project activities that held after the group’s last meeting in 2020. The Co-Founder of the International Climate Change Development Initiative (ICCDI) and group member, Olumide Idowu, reported on the national youth consultation on Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that CoSET organised to enhance meaningful youth contributions into the country’s NDC. The group commended the consultation but expressed dissatisfaction at the rather symbolic mention of youths in Nigeria’s final NDC that was submitted to the UNFCCC in July 2021. The group agreed to closely monitor, and further engage with the Federal Ministry of Environment in implementing her NDC pledge.

Climate Finance Expert, Chinma George; and the Executive Director of We Unite Foundation, Rinmicit Aboki, co-presented and led the analysis of outputs from CoSET’s climate-induced food security challenges activities that held in the first quarter of the year. The group members agreed to extend their focus to include the Southwest region, for inclusive geographical interventions. Proposed interventions include to conduct research on the topic area and gather stakeholders from Northern and Southern Nigeria to generate a joint narrative that can steer efficient advocacy. Likewise, the Executive Director of Gas Alert for Sustainable Initiative (GASIN), Fr. Edward Obi gave a presentation on the 2nd Circularity Africa Conference that the Interconnections for Making Africa Great, Empowered and Sustainable (IMAGES) Initiative held, in collaboration with CoSET, in May 2021 at the University of Ibadan. The group proposed future activities to link the narrative of circular economy to CoSET’s activity on gas flaring. Furthermore, after watching and reviewing the #EndGasFlaringNow explainer video, the members suggested innovative advocacy campaign action plans.

The concluding day of the meeting witnessed coalition members exchange in-depth ideas on strengthening collaborations with Nigeria Trade Unions, civil society organisations (CSOs) and the government. The conversation was led by the Climate Change Coordinator for the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Hauwa Mustapha, Climate Justice Advocate and Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Nnimmo Bassey, and the Executive Director of Women Environmental Programme, Anne-Marie Abaagu. The meeting concluded with an outline of work plan delegation that the coalition commit to implement from the last quarter of 2021 into the coming year 2022.