The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), in collaboration with TotalEnergies, Renaissance Africa Energy, Technexus, the Border Community Development Agency, and several volunteers, has sponsored TEDxPortHarcourt Countdown 2025, a major platform aimed at advancing climate change awareness and sustainable action in the Niger Delta region.
The event, themed “Climate Action Now: Local Solutions, Global Impact,” brought together thought leaders, innovators, creatives, and climate advocates to explore local strategies for reducing carbon emissions and building environmental resilience.
Hosted in Port Harcourt, the programme aligned with the global TED Countdown initiative, serving as a rallying point for climate-conscious innovation and collaboration in Nigeria.
The NDDC took a leading role by showcasing its ongoing climate projects, including solar-powered street and community lighting schemes, reforestation, and reclamation initiatives designed to support carbon credit generation and promote cleaner energy use across the region.
Speakers and performers at the event presented actionable ideas across sectors such as renewable energy, environmental justice, sustainable living, creative advocacy, the circular economy, and youth-led innovation. Participants were challenged to go beyond awareness and commit to measurable, community-driven climate action.
Curator and Primary Licensee of TEDxPortHarcourt, Donald Okudu, described the event as part of a growing movement to promote better energy solutions for a safer planet.
“The Countdown initiative reminds us that climate change is not a distant issue—it’s a present reality that demands bold, local responses,” Okudu said. “Port Harcourt can lead Nigeria’s climate transformation through innovation, storytelling, and community-driven action.”
Observers at the event reflected on Port Harcourt’s historic role in environmental struggles—from the Ogoni 9 activism led by Ken Saro-Wiwa, to the $1 billion Ogoni clean-up and ongoing campaigns for a soot-free Niger Delta—emphasizing the city’s symbolic significance in Africa’s environmental movement.
The summit also featured interactive exhibitions displaying green technologies and sustainable products, networking sessions promoting public-private collaboration, and artistic performances that used poetry, music, and visual art to spark climate consciousness.
In his address, NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, underscored the importance of local leadership in addressing global environmental challenges.
“Countdown is a global initiative, but its real impact begins locally,” Ogbuku said. “By amplifying voices from the Niger Delta, we are redefining what climate leadership looks like in Africa.”
He further highlighted the Commission’s commitment to sustainability through initiatives such as the Light Up Niger Delta Project, mangrove restoration, reforestation, and channelisation schemes, which are already yielding significant environmental benefits.
According to the organisers, TEDxPortHarcourt Countdown 2025 was made possible through the support of its corporate partners and a passionate organising team dedicated to promoting dialogue, innovation, and environmental responsibility across the Niger Delta.
