- Nigeria launched a Cooling Marketplace to mobilise finance for sustainable cooling solutions
- The initiative aims to turn cooling priorities into bankable, scalable investment projects
Sustainable cooling in Nigeria has taken a major step forward with the launch of a new national marketplace. On 4 December 2025 in Lagos, the National Council on Climate Change and Sustainable Energy for All convened the first Cooling Marketplace session. The event focused on mobilising finance for efficient and climate-friendly cooling solutions. As a result, Nigeria now has a structured platform to turn cooling priorities into investment-ready actions.
The Marketplace builds on lessons from the Mission Efficiency Marketplace. Therefore, it establishes a community of practice focused on delivery and scale. Importantly, the timing reflects rising cooling risks across the country. According to Chilling Prospects 2025, about 125 million Nigerians face high risks from inadequate cooling access. These risks affect farmers, traders, patients, students, and urban workers. Consequently, heat exposure now threatens livelihoods, health outcomes, and productivity.
At the same time, around 101 million Nigerians plan to purchase low-cost cooling devices. If these devices remain inefficient, energy demand will rise sharply. As a result, households may face higher electricity bills for decades. Grid stress and emissions will also increase. Therefore, sustainable cooling in Nigeria has become both a climate and economic priority.
The Cooling Marketplace brings together government, financiers, industry, and philanthropies. It aims to convert energy efficiency ideas into bankable projects. To achieve this, the platform supports project preparation, risk reduction, and investor matchmaking. The programme combined policy context with practical problem solving. Sessions addressed Kigali Amendment implementation, urban heat challenges in Lagos, and the national cooling investment gap.
Breakout groups focused on agriculture, healthcare, and buildings. In agriculture, participants prioritised cooling-as-a-service models and shared cold rooms. They also called for clearer carbon finance pathways. In healthcare, discussions stressed efficient facility design and reliable power for weak-grid locations. Meanwhile, the buildings group highlighted stronger standards enforcement and technical capacity. Participants also identified district cooling opportunities in major cities.
According to Uboho Ekpo of the National Council on Climate Change, sustainable cooling remains a climate priority for Nigeria. He noted that the Marketplace strengthens coordination and implementation across sectors. Therefore, cooling policies can now deliver measurable results on the ground.
Participants agreed to establish a Nigeria Cooling Community of Practice. The initiative will include thematic working groups and an NCCC-hosted secretariat. Planned outputs include investment guides, bankable project packages, and impact measurement tools. Ultimately, sustainable cooling in Nigeria now has a clear pathway from concept to investment.