Chinedu Ogwus, a European engineer and diplomat, has called on African leaders to focus resources on climate-smart investment as a tool for job creation across the continent.
Ogwus, who delivered a keynote address at the Africa–UK Trade and Investment Conference and Awards 2025, said that with over 60 percent of Africa’s population under 25, the continent’s future depends on empowering its youth through climate-smart opportunities.
He stressed that renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and green technology innovation are not just environmental imperatives but also pathways to mass employment, innovation, and global competitiveness.
“Green trade is Africa’s gateway to prosperity. Climate-smart investment will open new industries, create jobs for millions of our young people, and position Nigeria and the continent as leaders in the global green economy.
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“Renewable energy industries could raise a new generation of African engineers and technicians; climate-smart agriculture would not only feed the continent but also establish Africa as a global food exporter; and green technology innovations could turn waste into wealth through the creativity of Africa’s tech-savvy youth,” he said.
He further stressed that eco-certified exports would give African goods stronger access to European markets, where environmental standards now dictate competitiveness.
Climate-smart investment, according to him, is the strategic flow of financial resources into projects that both protect economies from climate risks and unlock new avenues for prosperity—ranging from solar farms and eco-housing to drought-resistant crops and waste-to-energy innovations.
“Our youths are not just the workforce of tomorrow; they are the innovators of today. If Africa embraces green trade and climate-smart investment, Nigerian youths will become exporters of innovation to the world—not seekers of opportunity,” Ogwus added.
