By Benjamin Njoku

Paris-based business development firm Bridge and Value has facilitated a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Katsina State and LDN Advisory to advance Nature-Based Solutions in the state, using the Land Degradation Neutrality principle to restore degraded land and strengthen biodiversity conservation.

The partnership was brokered by Bridge and Value’s Mr. Abiodun Dominic Odunuga at ChangeNOW 2026, the world’s largest summit for sustainability solutions. It is expected to unlock climate finance, support biodiversity conservation, and build a pipeline of high-integrity, bankable projects that deliver long-term environmental and socio-economic benefits for communities across Katsina.

The MoU was signed at the Grand Palais in Paris during ChangeNOW 2026, marking a significant step in the state’s efforts to combat desertification and build climate resilience.

“This partnership shows what is possible when African governments are strategically connected to global institutions, financing, and sustainability platforms,” Odunuga said.

“Bridge and Value is proud to have facilitated a collaboration that can deliver lasting environmental and socio-economic impact for Katsina State.”

He added that Nigeria’s presence at ChangeNOW 2026 sent a clear message that its institutions are ready to engage globally with practical, solution-driven approaches to climate resilience and sustainable development.

Governor Dikko Umar Radda led the Katsina delegation and reaffirmed the state’s commitment to sustainable development and green growth. 

He called for a shift in global climate discourse from pledges to measurable performance, stressing that progress must be judged by tangible outcomes.

Radda highlighted the urgency of climate challenges in Northern Nigeria, where desertification, water scarcity, and declining agricultural productivity are already affecting economic and social conditions. 

He said the state is responding with a proactive, systems-driven approach that places renewable energy and climate resilience at the core of its development strategy.

Also in attendance was Mrs. Titilayo Oshodi, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Climate Change and Circular Economy, who addressed the Nigeria Meet-Up at ChangeNOW 2026.

Bridge and Value is a Paris-based firm specializing in cross-border partnerships between Europe and Africa, working to strengthen ties between Nigeria and international sustainability leaders.