A Netherlands-based organisation, INCLUDE’s partnership has been instrumental in supporting the Committee’s work.
By Ife Osemedua
365Daily – The House of Representatives Committee on Renewable Energy has commended the INCLUDE knowledge platform for its consistent support and collaborative efforts, saying it has been instrumental in supporting the Committee’s work.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, gave the commendation during the African Policy Dialogue on Green Jobs for Women and Youths in Nigeria, jointly hosted by the Committee, INCLUDE, and the Advocacy for Policy Initiative (API), on July 24, 2025, at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
He expressed gratitude to INCLUDE in his keynote speech, saying: “I’d like to extend special gratitude to our dependable collaborator, INCLUDE Knowledge Platform, represented by Ms. Victoria Manya, a lawyer and workaholic knowledge broker, public policy, and sustainable development expert. Thank you, Ms. Manya, for your tireless efforts.”
Rep. Ogene further highlighted INCLUDE’s value to the Committee, citing its contributions to policy formulation and creative strategies in lawmaking and oversight duties. A Netherlands-based organisation, INCLUDE’s partnership has been instrumental in supporting the Committee’s work.
Notable Collaborations Highlighted
Rep. Ogene highlighted the Committee’s fruitful collaborations with INCLUDE, citing specific examples. He noted that the idea for the Committee’s first annual National Legislative Conference on Renewable Energy, held in Lagos in May, originated from INCLUDE, who hosted a session on the African Legislative Dialogue on Renewable Energy during the event.
Furthermore, Rep. Ogene disclosed that INCLUDE co-hosted side events with the Committee at the UNGA in New York, USA, and at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 2024. He expressed the Committee’s enthusiasm to co-host a side event at the upcoming COP30 in Brazil in November, to further the conversation on Green Jobs for women and youths, which legislation the committee is currently pushing in Nigeria.
Legislative Agenda of Inclusivity
Speaking further, Rep Ogene stated: “It is with great pride and a deep sense of responsibility that I welcome you to this Africa Policy Dialogue Kick-off Workshop on Green Jobs and Low Carbon Transition. Today, we are not just participating in a dialogue; we are setting in motion a legislative and national framework for real economic transformation.
“This workshop builds upon the outcomes of the First Annual Legislative Conference on Renewable Energy held earlier this year in Lagos.
“At the Lagos event, I announced that the House Committee on Renewable Energy is proposing a National Inclusive Green Jobs Act (NIGJA), a landmark Bill linking renewable energy investments to job creation, skills development, and youth and gender inclusion. NIGJA aims to unlock employment opportunities, particularly for Africa’s youth, while aligning with regional trade frameworks under AfCFTA to foster a competitive African energy market.
“Then, as now, we understood that climate action extends beyond environmental concerns – it’s a social justice imperative and an economic opportunity to transform lives, even in the most remote areas. For Nigeria to achieve meaningful and sustainable development, prioritizing the interests of women and youth is crucial. For, they are the driving force behind a nation’s future growth and progress.
“Notably, Agendas 5 and 6 of the 10th Assembly’s Legislative Agenda specifically focus on the interests, development, and support for women and youth demographics, respectively. This underscores our commitment to gender-sensitive and youth-centric policies and legislative priorities.
“As a Parliament, we recognize that effective lawmaking requires a multifaceted approach that prioritizes progress, development, and the well-being of our citizens. To address these pressing challenges, we must, therefore, explore innovative problem-solving strategies.” He emphasized.
In her response, Victoria Manya said, “On behalf of INCLUDE Knowledge Platform and our international partners, it is an honour to support this timely and necessary dialogue.
“We believe in a just transition—but more urgently, we believe in a justifiable one. Because what we are seeing globally, and increasingly in Africa, is that the low-carbon transition risks becoming the handmaiden of fossil fuel interests—delivering decarbonization targets on paper, while reproducing the same old inequalities in practice.
What we must do is reclaim the transition—not only as a climate imperative—but as a generational opportunity to rewrite our social contract.
“In Nigeria, the data is clear: too many young people are unemployed or underemployed, and too many women are shut out of emerging green sectors. A just transition must not only ask how we reduce emissions—but who gets the new jobs, who trains the workforce, and who shapes the policies.
“Recent labour force data shows that Nigeria’s unemployment rate among youth aged 15–34 is over 42%, with women disproportionately affected in both formal and informal sectors (NBS, 2023). Yet, the renewable energy sector alone has the potential to create 340,000 direct jobs by 2030—with solar PV accounting for over 76% of that growth (IRENA, 2022). However, less than 5% of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes in Nigeria are currently aligned with renewable energy skills (NBTE & INCLUDE, 2024). This gap between skills supply and sectoral demand underscores why policy frameworks like NIGJA and coordination platforms like NGSEA are not just helpful—they are mission-critical. We cannot scale green jobs without first scaling the infrastructure of inclusion, skills, and policy alignment.”