Friday, August 12, 2016

Another world is indeed possible, says PACJA



The Pan African climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) has again brought the world’s attention to Africa as thousands of movements from across the globe gathered in Montreal, Canada in the ongoing World Social Forum (FSM2016) holding from August 9-14, 2016. The 2016 Forum is with an overarching theme “Another World Is Possible.”
 
The goal of the WSF 2016 is to gather tens of thousands of people from groups in civil society, organizations and social movements who want to build a sustainable and inclusive world, where every person and every people has its place and can make its voice heard.

Thursday, August 11, 2016

Kenya’s only superhighway losing its environmental spark



By David Njagi

NAIROBI, Kenya (PAMACC News) - At the Githurai open air market in Kiambu County, Kenya, women occasionally swap gossip as they trade away their fresh produce wares.  

Suddenly the afternoon calm is torn by a sharp cry that sets the women upon a galloping villain. The cow had sneaked into one of the women’s stand and helped itself to mouthfuls of fresh tomatoes.

Cornered for its folly, it cleverly escapes to join a herd which is combing for leftovers at a nearby landfill.

Cameroon to notify Nigeria before releasing excess water, Minister says



By Tosin Kolade

Nigeria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Cameroonian Government to boost water resources management and notify the country before releasing excess water from its dam.

The Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, said this was to prevent a repeat of the 2012 flood in the country.

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Using open data to achieve SDGs



By Greg Odogwu

The Women Environmental Programme (WEP), a non-governmental, non-profit, non-religious and voluntary organization established in 1997 by a group of grassroots women in Nigeria, made history by training about twenty five Nigerian youths on data collection for the purpose of monitoring developmental governance.

The training of data collectors was done under the project “Promoting Transparency and Accountability in Local Government, Through Open Data Collection in Three Area Councils of FCT, Nigeria”.

Households from Pastoralists Counties in Kenya to Benefit from a Sh7.7 billion



By Nabongo Kwach

A total of 93,000 households from pastoralist counties in Kenya are set to benefit from a Sh7.7 billion World Bank project.

The is after Government on Sunday launched its component of the Sh19.1 billion (US$197 million) Regional Pastoral Livelihoods Resilience Project (RPLRP).

Ghana’s development under siege of unbridled land grabbing

By Koffi Adu Domfeh

KUMASI, Ghana (PAMACC News) - It took an industrial action by workers of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) recently to get their concerns of land sales and encroachment partly addressed by the government.
 
Domestic flights had to be grounded as part of the agitations before a compromise was reached for the GCAA to have 153 acres of the demanded 640 acres of land released.

Monday, July 25, 2016

Nigeria restates commitment to providing regular and potable water by 2030

Eng. Suleiman Adamu during an interview session with PAMACC News
DAR ES SALAAM (PAMACC News) - Nigeria's Minister of Water Resources, Eng. Suleiman Adamu has restated Federal Governments’ commitment towards increasing access to potable water for all Nigerians by 2030.


Adamu said this in an interview with PAMACC News at the recently concluded Africa water Week in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

He said that without universal access to safe water and sanitation, poverty and inequality cannot be eradicated in any country.

``We are working to ensure that all Nigerians have access to potable water by 2030 through urban water sector reform programme.”

Saturday, July 23, 2016

Africa determined to overcome water and sanitation challenges



By Elias Ntungwe Ngalame

DAR ES SALAAM (PAMACC News) - The water and sanitation challenges that confront Africa are not new. What is new however in the growing determination by development actors to stand to the different challenges heads on.

The 6th Africa Water Week in Dar es Salaam July 18-22, 2016  provided the right opportunity for researchers, civil society actors, government officials to show how determined the different actors are to find lasting solutions to the age old water and sanitation problems in the continent.

Friday, July 22, 2016

How Nile Basin riparian countries united for the sake of development



Nzoia River within the Nile Basin
By Isaiah Esipisu

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (PAMACC News) A conceptual structure agreed upon by Nile Basin riparian countries for organising policies, strategies and guidelines for sustainable management and development of the Nile River Basin some five years ago has enabled speedy development within the basin region.

Talking to journalist members of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PAMACC) at the sixth session of the Africa Water Week (AWW6) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, John Rao Nyoro, the Executive Director for the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) said that the Nile Basin Sustainability Framework (NBSF) is now benefiting all the 10 riparian states.

Thursday, July 21, 2016

Commission says insurgency affecting Lake Chad basin



By Tosin Kolade
 


DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, (PAMACC News) – Dr Mana Boubakari, Technical Director, Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), has said insurgency and its impact are challenges to effective groundwater management in the region.


Boubakari said this at an event on the sideline of the ongoing sixth Africa Water Week in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania on Wednesday.

He said it was sad to note that these challenges were worsened by the population growth in the region following inflow of refugees.

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Africa needs adapted early warning systems for water and climate management



By Elias Ntungwe Ngalame

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (PAMACC News) – Extreme droughts, floods and other climate challenges are leading to an increase in both the number and intensity of disasters all over the world and in Africa in particular. Countries in the Sahel regions in Africa are worst affected, experts have revealed.

Participants at a technical meeting in the 6th Africa Water Week in Dar es Salam on July 19, 2016, agreed early warning systems adapted to the realities of different countries will help governments cope with the huge climate challenges plaguing Africa.

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Smart-phones and community radio key for early warning systems



By Isaiah Esipisu

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (PAMACC News) – Use of mobile telephone technologies and community radio services has been cited as some of the best methods of sharing and disseminating climate information for effective early warning, and adaptation.

Experts attending the sixth session of the Africa Water Week (AWW) in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania have pointed out that early warning systems can be set up to avoid or reduce the impact of hazards such as floods, landslides, storms, and forest fires. However, the significance of an effective system lies in the recognition of its benefits by local people.

Monday, July 18, 2016

African governments asked to commit to providing water for all



By Isaiah Esipisu

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (PAMACC News) - Government representatives from Africa, civil society organisations and experts in the water sectors are meeting in Dar Es Salaam to draw a roadmap through which leaders will make commitments at the highest level towards achieving a universal and equitable access to water and sanitation for all.

The event, dubbed Sixth Africa Water Week (AWW) and convened by the African Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW) in conjunction with the African Union Commission brings together over 1000 participants from 100 different African countries.

African Ministers Call for self-driven water initiatives



By Elias Ntungwe Ngalame

DAR ES ALAAM , Tanzania (PAMACC News) – Africa is experiencing water crisis, with scientists saying there is strong evidence of decreased water flow and water quality in many countries.
                             
Scientists, researchers and drivers of water policy have also warned that continued population and economic growth, combined with climate change, could result in serious water shortages in some parts of the continent by 2025.

These challenges are coming at a time many African countries are mapping pathways towards the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs.

Thursday, July 14, 2016

Climate deniers should be compelled to finance adaptation in Africa – African NGOs


US Senators seek to hold climate deniers accountable

By Isaiah Esipisu

 

Nairobi, Kenya (PAMACC News) – African organisations championing against climate change have called on climate deniers to be compelled to finance climate change adaptation in developing countries and as well finance all the pledged Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) by all African countries.

 

This comes only two days after the Democrats in both United States chambers of Congress introduced a resolution condemning the efforts of fossil-fuel industries among others companies to deliberately cast doubt on science so as to mislead the public about the impact of the fuels on climate change, in an effort to protect their financial interests.

The Big Shift: A move to advocate for access to clean Energy launched in Africa



By Isaiah Esipisu and Robert Muthami
 
KIGALI, Rwanda (PAMACC News) – African Civil Society Organisations, on the sidelines of the ongoing 27th African Union and Governments Summit in Kigali-Rwanda have launched an energy advocacy initiative dubbed the “The Big Shift” aimed at enhancing energy access among millions of African Energy poor.

The Initiative is in line with the African Coalition for Sustainable Energy and Access (ACSEA) launched during of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), and spearheaded by the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA).

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

CSOs call for rapid phase down of Short-lived climate pollutants



Air conditioners use some of the polluting gases
By Robert Muthami and Isaiah Esipisu

African Civil Society Organisations (CSO) have called for a rapid phase down of the Short Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs) as a way of slowing down the current rate of global warming.

Based on a 2011 study by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in collaboration with the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) titled ‘Integrated Assessment of Black Carbon and Tropospheric Ozone,’ reducing three of the SLCPs – black carbon, tropospheric ozone, and methane – has the potential to avoid up to 0.5°C global average warming by 2050 and 0.84°C in the Arctic by 2070.

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

African Farmers to Benefit from Reduction in Loss of Grains after Harvest



Innovative technologies like mechanised threshers and airtight storage bags can reduce post-harvest losses by up to 50 percent

Post harvest losses (Isaiah Esipisu)
NAIROBI, Kenya (PAMACC News) – Globally, one-third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted, the equivalent of 1.3 billion tons of food per year. In Sub-Saharan Africa – home to over 230 million people suffering from chronic undernourishment – the majority of these losses occur after grains have been harvested, but before they reach the consumer. About 30 per cent of the grains produced on the continent is lost due to inadequate post-harvest management, lack of structured markets, inadequate storage, and limited processing capacity.

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Former Norwegian Minister Erik Solheim Takes Reins at UN Environment Programme


Solheim pledges to tackle major environmental issues such as ocean and air pollution, climate change, and nexus between conflict, migration and the environment
Erik Solheim (Photo - Colombo Telegraph)
 
NAIROBI, Kenya (PAMACC News) - Erik Solheim, a former Minister of Environment and International Development in Norway has began his tenure as Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme, with the concurrent position of UN Under-Secretary-General. Mr. Solheim assumes his new role as chief of the global authority on the environment after three years as head of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Saturday, June 25, 2016

Vers une meilleure couverture médiatique de l'agriculture et l'alimentation en Afrique sub-saharienne.


Visite de terrain

Par Kanzly MIDEH

ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire (PAMACC News) – Une avancée notable dans la stratégie de vulgarisation des problématiques liées à l’agriculture et à l’alimentation en Afrique sub-saharienne. C’est en substance ce que l’on peut retenir de l’atelier de renforcement des capacités organisé par la Banque mondiale et l’Initiative des médias d’Afrique (AMI), à l’intention d’une cinquante de journaliste africains du 13 au 15 juin dernier au Golf Hôtel d’Abidjan en Côte d’Ivoire.

Why Water Resources Ministry matters




By Greg Odogwu

ABUJA, Nigeria (PAMACC News) - The government of Nigeria recently midwifed a contract agreement between the River Basin Develop­ment Authorities (RB­DAs) and the Songhai Nigeria Partnership Ltd. to generate 1,200 jobs nationwide in three years.

At the signing cer­emony, the country’s Minister of Water Re­sources, Engr. Sulei­man Adamu said the objective is to strengthen the RBDAs to become major economic nerve centres in line with the economic diversi­fication policy of the change agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

Des animateurs des radios communautaires des régions de Dosso, Niamey et Tillabéry formés sur les changements climatiques



 Par Kané Illa

 Le samedi 18 juin dernier, le Centre de presse de la station régionale de l’ORTN (Office de Radiodiffusion et Télévision du Niger) de Dosso, à 150 kilomètres à l’est de Niamey, a servi de cadre à un atelier de formation des animateurs des radios communautaires des régions de Dosso, Niamey et Tillabéry sur les changements climatiques.

Sunday, June 19, 2016

NOTICE: New Schedule for ACCER Awards 2016



2016  ACCER AWARDS

REVISED SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES


2016 will be a crucial year for the African continent and the climate discourse community. Since the adoption of the Paris Agreement in an unprecedented diplomatic victory in France in December last year, there has been a lull and atmosphere of “wait-and-see” as the global community focus on the next actions in

Friday, May 27, 2016

Leaders call for action to save the environment



By Protus Onyango
 
NAIROBI, Kenya (PAMACC News) - Calls for paradigm shift, a united approach, more funding and ratification of the Paris Agreement to tackle global environmental degradation dominated the high-level session of the UN Environmental Assembly (UNEA 2) yesterday.

Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta while officially opening the high-level segment attended by ministers and high-level representatives of over 170 governments, stressed the need for partnerships to address effects of climate change.

"For the past two decades, we have seen a movement emerge across the world that protecting the environment cannot be a tertiary matter. We must make sacrifices now to leave our children a viable tomorrow," Uhuru said.

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Superstars join UN in the fight to combat illegal wildlife trade


Yaya Touré (Photo: http://www.thesun.co.uk)

By Isaiah Esipisu

The United Nations in with the backing of world renown celebrities including world class soccer star Yaya Touré, a Brazilian fashion model, actress, and producer Gisele Bündchen, South Korean statesman, a politician and the Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, and an American actor, model and film director Ian Somerhalder have launched a campaign to tame illegal trade in wildlife.

During the launch on the sidelines of the second United Nations Environment Assembly in Kenyas, Ban Ki-moon called on Governments and people everywhere to support the new United Nations campaign known as ‘Wild for Life,’ which aims to mobilise the world to end this destructive trade.

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Cheap illegal timber trade costing the world economy billions of dollars



Timber harvested from Kakamega Forest in Kenya. (Photo: Isaiah Esipisu)
By David Njagi

NAIROBI, Kenya (PAMACC News) - Illegal logging is collapsing the world timber market, experts at the ongoing United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) meeting in Nairobi have warned.

Scientists accuse cartels involved in the fourth most profitable illegal trade of applying elusive tactics such as bribery and money laundering to deny the global economy billions of dollars.

Youth to use video to inform public about climate change trhough a competition



By Protus Onyango

Young people are invited to tell the world how they are shaping a more sustainable future by entering the second annual Global Youth Video Competition on climate change.

The competition, which is being run by Television for the Environment (tve) and is part of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change's (UNFCCC) Action for Climate Empowerment and Momentum for Change initiatives, will culminate in a high-profile awards ceremony in November 2016 at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP22) in Marrakech, Morocco.

Change global food system to combat hunger, use natural resources


Launch of the report in Nairobi
By Protus Onyango

NAIROBI, Kenya (PAMACC News) – A major overhaul of the global food system is urgently needed if the world is to combat hunger, use natural resources more efficiently and stem environmental damage, the International Resource Panel (IRP) says.

In its latest report, the IRP – a consortium of 34 internationally renowned scientists, over 30 national governments and other groups hosted by UNEP – calls for a switch to a “resource-smart” food system that changes the way food is grown, harvested, processed, traded, transported, stored, sold and consumed.

Increase in air pollution threatens more lives, but there is hope



Achim Steiner at the UNEA conference
By Isaiah Esipisu

NAIROBI, Kenya (PAMACC News) – About three billion people who depend on solid fuels and open fires for cooking and heating around the world are at risk of contracting cardiovascular diseases, despite efforts on the ground to reverse the trend, says a new report by UNEP  titled Actions on Air Quality.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), global urban air pollution levels increased by 8 percent between 2008 and 2013, putting affected people to a risk of early death due to diseases, such as strokes and heart disease, as well as cancer and respiratory diseases.  

According to the report, more than 80 per cent of people living in urban areas that monitor air pollution are exposed to air quality levels that exceed WHO limits, threatening lives, productivity and economies.

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Kenya joins the search for a pollution free sky



By David Njagi
Searching for pollution free skies. Photo - Isaiah Esipisu

NAIROBI, Kenya (PAMACC News) - The noose is tightening around rogue enterprises which have turned Kenya’s cities and towns into smoke canopies.

An air quality control regulation that the National Environment Authority (NEMA) launched last year will soon enable the agency to fit vehicles and industries with a pollutant unit to monitor their volume of exhaust smoke.

“We are going to stick the unit on vehicles and industries valid for two years to find out if the owner is polluting,” explains Prof. Geoffrey Wakhungu, director general NEMA. “The ones found to be polluting will be forced to dump the dirty asset or find ways to clean it up.”

Report links illegal trade in wildlife to spread of zoonotic diseases



By David Njagi

NAIROBI, Kenya (PAMACC News) - Illegal traffic in live animals is one of the leading causes of zoonotic diseases spread around the world, a new report by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) has warned.

The report, Emerging Issues of Environmental Concern, lists Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), avian flu, monkey pox and even ebola as some of the diseases which may have jumped species into the human genome.

Global Wildlife Programme to fight global wildlife poaching and trafficking crisis



Prof Judy Wakhungu at UNEA
 By Protus Onyango

NAIROBI, Kenya (PAMACC News) - Kenya is expected to benefit from the Sh9 billion ($90 million) Global Wildlife Programme to fight global wildlife poaching and trafficking crisis.

The World Bank in collaboration with other bodies have launched the programme, approved by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and meant to strengthen the ability and capacity of participating countries to combat poaching and illegal wildlife trade.

Monday, May 16, 2016

Poor Countries ready to work with the global community in combating climate change, says Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu

Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu - Chair of LCD Group
BONN, Germany (PAMACC News) - On the 10th-11th May the Least Developed Countries met in Bonn to prepare for the upcoming climate negotiations beginning on 16th May. This preparatory meeting has been an important opportunity for all LDC negotiators to come together and further develop the collective goals of the LDCs in light of the Bonn negotiations, during which work will begin on developing the modalities, guidelines and procedures for implementation of the Paris Agreement.

Friday, May 13, 2016

Kenya’s forests under pressure as government gags environment groups



By David Njagi
 
MERU, Kenya  – Ngai Mutuoboro, 70, may not wield the vibrancy of his youthful days, but he can still pack a punch when it comes to environmental conservation.

The elder from Tharaka Nithi County in upper eastern Kenya, has been arrested, harassed and even lost a member of his community group, for agitating against illegal exploitation of Mt. Kenya forest by pwerful politicians.

At his shanty structure in Kibubua village which flanks the forest to the east, Mutuoboro keeps a collection of documents that show the kind of human rights abuses environmental groups like his, face, when they lobby against politicians involved in illegal logging at one of the biggest water towers in Kenya.

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Cost of Adapting to Climate Change Could Hit $500 Billion per year by 2050






UNEP's Adaptation Finance Gap Report: Failure to cut emissions will dramatically increase the annual costs of adaptation, which could be up to five times higher by 2050 than previously thought.
 
ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands (PAMACC News) – The cost of adapting to climate change in developing countries could rise to between $280 and $500 billion per year by 2050, a figure that is four to five times greater than previous estimates, according to a new United Nations Environment (UNEP) report. 

Released as nations sign the landmark Paris Agreement on climate change, the report assesses the difference between the financial costs of adapting to climate change in developing countries and the amount of money actually available to meet these costs – a difference known as the “adaptation finance gap”. 

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Energy experts seek transformative energy power struggle in off grid African communities



By Elias Ntungwe Ngalame

TORONTO, Canada (PAMACC News) - Energy experts say emerging technology, social and business innovations are offering enormous possibilities for over 2 billion people in off grid communities especially in Africa to access energy resources that will radically transform their lives through improvements in education, business, agriculture health care and other spheres.

The application of increasingly low-cost modular renewable energy technologies to Africa’s emerging markets also offers an opportunity to mitigate the effects of climate change and enable energy poor communities to become leaders in the global shift towards decarbonization, the energy experts pointed out at the end of a four day WGSI (Waterloo Global Science Initiative)Open Access Energy Summit in Waterloo Toronto Canada, April 22-27,2016.

Friday, May 6, 2016

At last, Kenya signs bill into climate change law



By David Njagi

Dr Ottichilo (left) in an interview with a PAMACC Journalist
NAIROBI, Kenya (PAMACC News) – After years of wheeler dealing, Kenya finally has a climate change law.

The 2014 Climate Change Authority Bill has finally been signed into law by President Uhuru Kenyatta on May 06, 2016 after going through the third reading in Parliament.

“We discussed the Bill’s progress with the President during this year’s World Economic Forum in New York,” said Wilbur Ottichilo, the Parliamentary Network on Renewable Energy and Climate Change (PNRECC) chairman. “He promised to assent to it as soon as it passes through the committee stage.”

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Sowing the Seeds of Africa’s Success



Hon Amina. (Photo: http://dailymail.com.ng)
By Amina Mohammed, Minister of Environment for Nigeria

Africa’s transformation lies in the continent’s rich soil. If we protect the ecosystems that sustain us we can lift Africans out of poverty, achieve food security, build climate resilience, create wealth and end hunger.

THERE is an old Nigerian proverb that says “fine words do not produce food”. So I will keep my words as simple and clear as possible.

Africa is facing a harsh reality. One in every two people on the continent lives in extreme poverty.In 15 years, most of the world’s poor will reside herein Africa.Sadly,as I write,about 240 million people go to bed hungry every night while malnutrition kills more than 50% of the African children who die before they reach the age of five.

The Natural Jewels in Africa’s Crown


Hon. Tshekedi S. Khama (ITB Berlin)

By Hon. Tshekedi S. Khama, Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism of Botswana

IT is impossible to look out over the winding waterways and lush green wetlands of the magnificent Okavango Delta and fail to understand the importance of conserving the natural world.

A World Heritage Site teeming with plants, fish, birds and home to some of the planet’s most endangered animals, the delta is one of Botswana’s – and Africa’s – most impressive natural jewels.

It is clear that the world has a moral obligation to save areas of wild beauty like these: the planet would be poorer without them.

Friday, April 22, 2016

UN Environment Programme Executive Director Statement on Paris Agreement Signing



New York, 22 April, 2016 - UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Achim Steiner released the following statement on the occasion of the opening day for the signing of the Paris Agreement:


"In Paris, the world's nations agreed that climate change is a threat to planetary well-being. Having over 160 countries sign the Paris Agreement in New York on its opening day is proof positive that the world is committed to a global response to this threat.

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Africa declares all-out war on energy poverty


By Atayi Babs

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has declared its resolve to eliminate energy poverty in the continent of Africa.

AMCEN President & UNEP Rep at the plenary (PHOTO: PAMACC/Atayi Babs)
Addressing a high-level panel comprising African ministers of the environment and heads of country delegations at the ongoing 6th Special Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) in Cairo today, the AfDB President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina revealed that over 645 million Africans have no access to electricity and have become accustomed to living in darkness.

Represented by Prof. Anthony Nyong, the AfDB president decried the fact that over 600,000 women and children in Africa die each year from indoor smoke inhalations while trying to prepare meals for their families.  According to him, the brakes being applied on Africa's development by the obvious lack of energy leaves the AfDB with no choice than to declare an all-out war against energy poverty in Africa.

Nigeria lobbies AMCEN for UNEA Vice Presidency

Alh. Usman Jibril, Nigeria's Minister of state, Environment
(PHOTO: PAMACC/Atayi Babs)

By Atayi Babs

Nigeria's aspiration for the vice presidency of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) received a major boost today as the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) was officially informed today.

Speaking to over 40 Ministers of the environment and heads of country delegations at the 6th special session of the conference in Cairo today, Alh. Ibrahim Usman Jibril, Nigeria's Minister of state for Environment who represented the senior minister, expressed the country's delight to present Mrs. Amina Mohammed for nomination as one of the two Vice Presidents from Africa on the bureau of the UNEA 2.