A former governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, has departed Nigeria to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference tagged COP 28 that started on Thursday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where he will be speaking on climate change issues.
The spokesperson for the former governor, Mallam Ahmad Sajoh, disclosed this in a statement made available to The PUNCH on Thursday.
According to Sajoh, Fayemi, who also doubled as the President of Forums of Regions of Africa, will be discussing the roles that sub-national governments can play in the operationalisation of the Loss and Damage Fund as part of the sideline events of the conference.
“Fayemi has been invited to the conference in his capacity as President of FORAF, the regional platform that seeks to strengthen governance and promote sustainable development in Africa’s towns and cities. He will speak on “The Role of Sub-National Governments in Operationalisation of Loss and Damage Fund” at the side event organized by the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa on December 2nd.
“The Loss and Damage Fund is a mechanism that was established at COP 27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt to provide financial assistance to developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The fund is expected to be operationalised in 2024.
“Fayemi’s speech will focus on the role that sub-national governments can play in the operationalisation of the Loss and Damage Fund. He will argue that sub-national governments have a critical role to play in identifying and assessing the needs of vulnerable communities, and in ensuring that the funds are used effectively and efficiently.”
He stressed that the conference would afford FORAF the opportunity to showcase the profile of sub-national governments and how they had contributed to sustainable development in Africa.
