Rt. Hon. Sam Onuigbo has been inaugurated as President of GLOBE Legislators, becoming the first African to lead the global parliamentary network in its 35-year history.
The historic ceremony took place on June 24, 2026, at the Churchill Room, House of Commons, Parliament of the United Kingdom, during the organisation’s 35th anniversary celebration.
The event was hosted by former UK Minister for Climate Change and outgoing GLOBE President, Rt. Hon. Graham Stuart MP, and formed part of the 2026 London Climate Action Week.
Onuigbo, who sponsored Nigeria’s Climate Change Act 2021 during the 9th National Assembly, used his acceptance speech to reaffirm Nigeria and Africa’s commitment to international climate protocols. He assured the global community that “the African continent would continue to identify itself in various protocols aimed at ensuring climate change mitigation, environmental sustainability and energy transition”.
Tracing GLOBE’s history, Onuigbo noted that the organisation was founded in 1991 by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, alongside legislators from the European Parliament, Japanese Diet, and Russian Duma, with a vision of translating international climate agreements into legislative action.
He commended the organisation’s 35 years of intensive efforts, which have seen GLOBE evolve from convening legislators on a cross-party basis to becoming the Focal Point of the UNFCCC’s Parliamentary Group. Under this mandate, GLOBE hosted the first Parliamentary Pavilion at COP28 in Dubai, repeated the feat at COP29 in Baku, and is on course to do so again at COP31 in Antalya.
The new GLOBE President praised Nigeria’s former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, “for his significant role in introducing GLOBE to Nigeria and backing its valuable presence across Africa”.
In line with the event’s theme, “Building Political Resilience and Public Consensus for Climate Action at a Time of Severe Domestic and Geopolitical Challenges,” Onuigbo outlined his priorities:
· Promoting widespread green investments and climate initiatives globally
· Enhancing opportunities for knowledge sharing, capacity development, and peer learning
· Strengthening collaborations with governments, development agencies, civil society, and the private sector
· Mainstreaming climate education across all educational levels
· Expanding the Student-MP Climate Surgery programme, which he oversaw in Nigeria in 2022
“Under my leadership, GLOBE aims to enhance opportunities for knowledge sharing, capacity development, and peer learning,” Onuigbo stated. “Our goal is to ensure that climate actions are not only discussed at international legislative forums but also translated into tangible initiatives and actions within communities worldwide”.
Call for Parliamentary Engagement
Onuigbo stressed the critical role of parliaments in climate governance, quoting GLOBE’s 2023 slogan: “Parliaments Make COPs Count.”
He declared: “There will be no headway in climate action without parliaments. We call on all legislators, development banks, governments, donor agencies, academics, and the youth to rally round us and support parliamentary engagement”.
The inauguration coincided with the inaugural Nigeria Climate Investment Summit at Mansion House in London, where Nigeria is showcasing opportunities in carbon markets and energy transition investments.
GLOBE International is also planning to relocate its administrative headquarters to Nairobi, Kenya, as part of efforts to bring climate governance closer to developing economies.
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