Nigeria’s aspiration to become a green economy inches closer as the Federal Government meets investors and capital markets operators in Lagos for the first ever Green Bonds Conference.
Themed ‘Green Bonds: Investing in Nigeria’s Sustainable Development,’ the conference is organised by the Federal Ministry Environment in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Finance and Debt Management Office and will take place on Thursday, at the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Lagos.
Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo will deliver a keynote presentation at the conference, while the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode and Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun will also attend as special guests.
The conference agenda is expected to have panel discussions, an exhibition and presentation of the identified projects in energy, agriculture, transport and environment, with international investors and business leaders expected to lead at the event.
The Sovereign Green Bonds project is part of a strategic process by the Federal Government to add to the nation’s funding options to catalyse the rebound of our economy and offer the vast majority of Nigerians, a new alternative. The Green bonds issuance will be the first stage in enabling Nigerian tap into the growing global market for green bonds, which as of end of 2016 comprised of $576 billion of unlabeled climate-aligned bonds and $118 billion of labelled green bonds according to Climate Bonds Initiative in London.
“A sovereign green bond represents a new stage in development of Nigerian capital markets and opens the way for further corporate issuance and international investment. The NSE is playing a key role to help develop this enormous opportunity for Nigeria and fulfil one of our key objectives as a member of the UN Sustainable Stock Exchange Initiative,” Oscar Onyema, CEO Nigerian Stock Exchange said.