Nigerian Climate Ambassador Demands Substantive Youth Roles at Global Economic Forum
Nigerian Youth Climate Ambassador Kayinajah Inyang has issued a powerful challenge to global leadership during the closing sessions of the World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos, Switzerland. Speaking at a youth empowerment side event themed "A Spirit of Dialogue," Inyang called for a fundamental transformation in how young people are included in global decision-making processes.
Beyond Dialogue to Decision-Making Power
"The youths demand more," declared Inyang during his address. "We have spent years in the 'Spirit of Dialogue,' but dialogue without seats at the table is just performance. Young people need more seats at the table where the actual decisions are made."
The ambassador emphasized that dialogue should serve as a tool rather than an end result. He expressed frustration with current practices where young people are invited to share their stories while critical decisions and budget allocations occur behind closed doors without their meaningful participation.
"Looking around this room, there need to be more young people like me here, speaking for themselves because you cannot design a future for us, without us," Inyang asserted, highlighting the visible lack of youth representation in high-level global forums.
Connecting Representation to Climate Action
Inyang directly linked the inadequate representation of young people to the sluggish progress in climate action and technological equity worldwide. He stressed that for Nigeria and the broader African continent, climate change represents not merely a future threat but a current reality driving conflict and economic displacement.
The ambassador, recognized for his work in helping environmental and climate technology firms secure vital funding for their projects, called for a significant increase in financial resources specifically designated for youth-led adaptation initiatives. He advocated moving beyond traditional loan structures that often further burden developing economies.
Funding the Green Industrial Revolution
"We are seeing a green industrial revolution begin in Africa, but it is being starved of the oxygen it needs: funding, funding & funding," Inyang stated passionately. "We are not just asking for charity, we are asking for investment in the most innovative and resilient workforce on the planet."
He called for concrete actions through climate finance mechanisms that prioritize youth-led technological development. Inyang challenged the disconnect between discussing innovation in Davos while young entrepreneurs across African cities like Abuja, Nairobi, Cairo, and Johannesburg remain excluded from the global financial system.
"We demand an equitable distribution of resources to ensure that the next generation of climate solutions is born and scaled in Africa and the global south at large," he concluded, emphasizing the need for systemic change in resource allocation.
Consistent Advocacy on Global Platforms
Inyang's participation at Davos 2026 marks his fourth consecutive year engaging with the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting. Recently named among "African Environmentalists to Watch in 2026" by Forbes magazine, he has established himself as a consistent representative of African youth perspectives on climate issues.
Much of his advocacy experience stems from the United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties framework, where he has accumulated over five years of experience. Throughout his involvement, Inyang has championed transparency and accountability in global climate commitments while working to facilitate financial flows toward meaningful climate solutions.
