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A Professor of Accounting and Taxation at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, John Uzoma Ihendinihu, has praised former federal lawmaker, Rt. Hon. Sam Onuigbo, for his visionary role in driving climate governance reforms and laying the foundation for major policy breakthroughs currently being realised in Nigeria’s climate sector.

ABUJA BUSINESS REPORTS NEWSPAPER & MAGAZINE reports that the commendation follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent approval of the National Carbon Market Framework, operationalisation of the Climate Change Fund, and restoration of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) to the federal budget.

In a message titled “Message of Commendation to Rt. Hon. Sam Onuigbo,” Prof. Ihendinihu described Onuigbo as a transformational leader whose legislative efforts continue to shape Nigeria’s climate engagements and unlock new opportunities for growth, innovation, and international financing.

Prof. Ihendinihu noted that these recent national policy approvals are direct outcomes of the core legislative foundation laid by Onuigbo through his sponsorship of the Climate Change Act 2021 — Nigeria’s first comprehensive legal framework on climate change.

According to him, Sam Onuigbo’s foresight and strategic contributions have helped position Nigeria to attract billions of dollars in climate finance, scale green jobs, boost low-carbon innovation, and strengthen the country’s readiness ahead of global climate engagements such as COP30.

He stated that Onuigbo’s induction into the National Assembly Most Valuable Parliamentarian (MVP) Hall of Fame remains a fitting recognition of the enduring national value of his legislative service.

Born in Abia State, Rt. Hon. Sam Onuigbo represented the Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, where he served as Chairman of the House Committee on Climate Change. During his tenure, he championed critical reforms that elevated climate policy to the centre of Nigeria’s development agenda. His sponsorship of the Climate Change Bill — signed into law in 2021 — stands today as one of the country’s most significant environmental governance milestones.

Stakeholders say the real-time policy gains now emerging in carbon markets, climate financing, and institutional strengthening are further validation that Onuigbo’s interventions continue to shape Nigeria’s sustainable development trajectory.