COP 28: Ijaw Youth Council President Jonathan Lokpobori leads Ijaw patriots to Dubai to meet with world leaders over Niger Delta Environmental Challenges
On Wednesday 29th of November,2023, a pan ijaw delegation led by Jonathan Lokpobiri arrived Dubai, United Arab Emirates comprised of Dr. Hephzibah Suobo Chairman of the Bayelsa State Decade on Ecosystems Restoration Committee/Technical Consultant African Youth International Development Foundation, Maobuye Nangi Obu Secretary General of IYC , Iwefa Aganaba, Executive Assistant on special duties to the IYC President , Doubra Ziakede , CEO Kpooka Media, Ovieteme George National Correspondent to Arise Television and other crew members. The delegation attended the opening negotiations at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC) also referred to as the Conference of the Parties 28th session (COP28).
On the 30th of November, 2023, the ijaw patriots registered and obtained their badges for the bluezone engagement and also attended the historic and epoch making opening ceremony of the COP 28 where all State parties adopted the resolution of the loss and damage fund to finance national action plans on adaptation and mitigation strategies on climate change.
The President of Council met with global leaders such as Dr. Ngonjo Iweala President of World Trade Organization (WTO) , Tony Elumelu , President of Tony Elumelu Foundation/Chairman United Bank for Africa, Minister of Aviation, Hon. Festus Keyamu, GMD Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd ( NNPCL) Mele Kyari and other leaders on a drive for multilateral engagement through networking and engaging for climate advocacy for inclusivity of the Niger Delta Climate Action and Response Strategies , President of IYC Jonathan Lokpobiri advocated for regional high ambition for implementation of NDCs and UN Climate grants in the Niger Delta , the ijaw youth leader advanced the pursuit for climate Justice with citizens engagement at the African Pavilion and the Nigerian pavilion where he plans to meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.
The objective of attracting global funding opportunities and possibilities to finance Ijaw Youth Development Trust Fund aimed at ameliorating environmentally vulnerable communities and turning them to environmentally viable , strong and resilient communities is a deliberate, focused objective of Jonathan Lokpobiri’ regime in the IYC .
Jonathan Lokpobiri also met with the Nigerian Minister of Petroleum (OIL) Sen. Henekein Lokpobiri and told him of the mission of IYC at COP 28. The Oil Minister responded by saying he too is on ground to deliver Nigerian position on Net Zero Commitment to UNFCCC.
With the Nigerian President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and over 100 Heads of Governments, 70,000 delegates, 300 multilateral Organisations and Bretton Wood institutions from all over the world, climate change Influencers all in Dubai to drive strategic global, regional ,national and subnational agenda for the good of humanity, the ijaw nation is not left behind with the Presence of IYC President and Ijaw patriots at COP28.
