The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) ended the year 2022 with a courtesy visit to the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Group, Ms Amina J. Mohammed.

During the visit, HEDA called for effective action on Illicit Financial Flow (IFF) in the New Year, 2023, following its impacts on Africa’s ability to address climate change and plan for transition to clean energy.

In a statement issued to commemorate the Year 2022 in Lagos and signed by its Chairman, Mr Olanrewaju Suraju, HEDA recounted various activities it carried out in 2022 aimed at addressing the problems of climate change and threats it posed to sustainable development.

“We also implemented various engagements to assist governments in the fight against corruption and illicit financial flow as we are very much aware of its implications on the planned energy transition and sustainable development generally,” HEDA said.

Detailing some of the engagements, Mr Suraju said: “Very recently, in a workshop titled: “Ramping Up Climate Information Service Delivery for Dry Season Farming: Averting a National Food Crises Post-2022 Flooding,” we engaged permanent secretaries at a high-level technical meeting organized in collaboration with NiMet in Abuja.

“In partnership with Oxfam in Nigeria, we also organized a forum titled: “Climate Justice Circle (CJC),” with an over-arching theme: “On the road to COP27” which was aimed at an equitable, inclusive response to various impacts of natural and human-induced effect of climate change and a just energy transition, as articulated by over 70 stakeholders physically and a host of others who joined online.

The event featured no less than 37 experts including from among women, youth and Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) who led discussions across 10 panel discussion and a plenary congress.

“This was followed by the post COP27 dialogue, a one-day event titled: “COP 27 Outcomes and Implications for Africa: An Assessment,” which HEDA also organised.

“Also recently, we engaged critical stakeholders in Abuja on the need for International Anti-corruption Court (IACC). In December, as part of its tracking and document corruption cases, and rewarding uprightness, HEDA launched the 6th Edition of its “Compendium of 100 High Profile Corruption Cases in Nigeria.”

“We also presented in the same month, the 5th Edition of the Gani Fawehinmi Impacts and Integrity Awards (GFIIA) which was chaired by Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, JAMB Registrar who presented the Awards to various category of winners, including the Outstanding Integrity Awards presented to to Pa Muibi Sonubi, a 90-year-old man.”