Hon. Abdullahi Tanko Yakasai, the **[Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North‑West)](https://presidency.gov.ng)**, announced on 30 May 2024 that the federal government will mobilise at least ₦20 billion over the next four years to address flooding, drought, desertification, migration and other climate‑related threats in the North‑West zone. The declaration was made during the North‑West Climate Summit held in the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
**Key facts**
- The fund targets the seven North‑West states – Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara.
- A Climate Academy will be set up to train 10,000 youths on climate resilience and green technologies.
- The Climate Fund will channel resources into flood control, drought mitigation, renewable‑energy projects and water‑security initiatives.
- Yakasai quoted, “We are looking at the region of N20 billion in the next four years. All these are aimed at easing the problems of climate, because this is what is bedevilling the whole world.”
The summit’s purpose, according to Yakasai, was to create an enabling environment for state and local governments to engage with development partners, financial institutions and private investors. The programme is being rolled out in partnership with the **[Northern Governors’ Forum](https://www.nggovernorsforum.org)**, the **[North‑West Governors’ Forum]** and the **[North‑West Development Commission](https://nwdevelopmentcommission.gov.ng)**.
**What is the Climate Academy?**
The Academy will offer curricula on climate‑action, resilience building and green entrepreneurship, aiming to equip 10,000 young people across the region with practical skills to support climate‑smart agriculture and renewable‑energy ventures.
**How will the Climate Fund operate?**
The Climate Fund will be administered through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement. It will finance projects that improve flood‑risk management, expand solar and wind energy capacity, and support water‑security schemes in drought‑prone areas.
Yakasai highlighted that the initiative, which began in 2023, is intended to strengthen Nigeria’s position ahead of the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Summit. He said the discussions at the Abuja gathering would feed into Nigeria’s contributions at the global forum, allowing the country to align its domestic actions with international climate commitments.
The summit positioned the North‑West as an investment‑focused platform for climate‑resilient agriculture, renewable energy, water security and youth‑led green enterprises. By mobilising substantial financing and building human‑capacity through the Climate Academy, the government hopes to mitigate the region’s climate vulnerabilities and spur sustainable development.
**What challenges remain?**
Yakasai identified flooding, migration, prolonged drought, dry‑season pressures and the need for renewable‑energy solutions as the most pressing issues confronting the North‑West. He affirmed that any climate‑related challenge will be addressed through coordinated action and targeted funding.