Advancing Green Policies and Inclusive Growth: Stakeholders Launch Advocacy Forum

Stakeholders have set up a forum for green policies and the informal economy, aiming at inclusive growth in the country.

The forum was set up recently in collaboration with researchers from De Montfort University and the University of Lagos.

The Principal Investigator of the research work, which culminated in the creation of the Stakeholders’ Forum, Dr. Eghosa Igudia, revealed:

“While Nigeria is a signatory to the treaty [to limit global temperatures signed by 196 countries in 2015], much still needs to be done in the currently unregulated Nigerian renewable energy space.”

He further married the current reality of Nigeria’s inflation rates and the effects of the removal of the petroleum subsidy, resulting in the rise in the cost of livelihood in Nigeria, to the findings of the surveys and interviews carried out in Lagos in April 2024 across five local governments.

Dr. Eghosa stated:

“Data gathered in the hubs of solar panel and inverter sales in Lagos, Arena Market Oshodi, and Alaba and used in Ikeja Computer Village clearly support the need for a stakeholders’ forum. This will make it possible for the co-creation of the much-needed regulations and conducive environment required to fully harness the potential of renewable energy in Nigeria. Reflecting further on the findings from their work, the PI reiterated the need to see the current Nigerian energy reality as an opportunity rather than as full of unfixable problems.”

He added:

“Tentatively named ‘The Renewable Energy Stakeholders’ Forum’ as suggested by participants at the event in LCCI Ikeja, common consensus advocates hybrid meetings going forward. To bridge the communication gap between the huge, informal Nigerian renewable energy market, which research revealed has very little knowledge of green policies and climate change, modalities that would undoubtedly benefit Nigeria would be adopted when the SF resumes its activities at a yet undisclosed date.”

The initiative is a product of a year-long collaboration between researchers from De Montfort University and the University of Lagos. It highlights the important role of stakeholders’ engagement in policymaking, policy dialogue, design, and implementation.

Dr. Eghosa further commented:

“With the creation of the SF, joint efforts by all stakeholders can enable Lagos, and by extension Nigeria, to grant primacy to renewable energy as a viable alternative source of power supply. The forum, comprising renewable energy practitioners, users, top academics in the energy space, and members of the public, agreed that it is imperative to explore environment-friendly energy alternatives.”

Additionally, a forum for Inclusive Policy for the Informal Economy in Lagos was established. Dr. Eghosa noted:

“It is the result of over a decade of deep diving research and academic collaboration between De Montfort University and Nottingham Trent University in the UK, the University of Lagos, and the Federation of Informal Workers Organisation of Nigeria, and more recently, the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation.

“The SF, which aims to bridge the communication gap between operators in the informal economy (street hawkers and motorcycle riders) and the government, emanated from a research work initially supported by the British Academy titled ‘Inclusive Poverty Reduction: In Search of a Policy Framework to Support Individuals Operating in the Informal Economy in Lagos, Nigeria.’ The project is set to co-create inclusive policy, which works for all.”

He concluded:

“The formed SF therefore presents a harmonious platform where policy meets the people after consultations with relevant stakeholders. The essence of the creation of both SFs is to improve both the policies themselves and the policymaking processes that deliver the measures governing everyone’s daily lives in Lagos. In the spirit of cooperation and collaboration, stakeholders have identified mutually agreeable solutions and ways forward towards inclusive policy and policymaking processes, reflective of the dynamics of the Lagos informal economy.”