Father of Climate Change Act Onuigbo Bags African Impact Excellence Award

The member representing the South-East Geopolitical Zone on the Governing Board of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), and former National Assembly member who sponsored Climate Change Act 2021, Rt. Hon. Sir Sam Onuigbo has bagged the African Impact Excellence Award 2025 from The Voice News Magazine, Netherlands.

The Voice Achievers Awards is an annual event by The Voice News Magazine, Netherlands. This year’s event which will hold at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, is the 14th edition, and the first to be hosted in Nigeria.

According to The Voice Achievers Award Committee, Rt. Hon. Sam Onuigbo earned the African Impact Excellence Award 2025 for sponsoring the Climate Change Act 2021 and also ensuring it got the President’s assent against all odds, particularly after the Bill had failed in the 6th, 7th and 8th National Assembly.

The Committee explains further that Rt. Hon. Sam Onuigbo has continued to amplify the issues of Climate Change in Nigeria, Africa and across the globe.

Some distinguished personalities who have bagged The Voice Achievers Awards in the past include: first President of Zambia, Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda (Icon of Africa Award 2012), former Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Ambassador Mrs. Fatou Bensouda (African Woman of the Year Award 2012), former President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma (Icon of Democracy Award 2013), former First Lady of the Republic of Mozambique, Mrs. Isaura Nyusi (African Heroine Award 2019), late Prime Minister of Kenya, Rt. Hon. Ralia Amolo Odinga (Icon of Democracy Award 2019), Commentator/Activist

Others are, Prof. PLO Lumumba (African Leadership Award 2019), Arch-Bishop Margret Benson Idahosa (African Woman Leadership Award 2014), Ambassador Bianca Olivia Odumegwu-Ojukwu (African Ambassador Award 2014), former member of the European Parliament, Jan Pronk (Distinguished Career Award 2017), Sheikh Fahim Al Qasimi of UAE (Government Relations Award 2021), Former Governor of Anambra state,Mr Peter Obi (personality of the year 2014), among others.

The House of Representatives Press Corps in recognition of this landmark achievement bestowed him with the Award of the Dean of Bills/Most Dedicated Lawmaker 2021.

This was notably one of the earliest major awards Hon. Sam Onuigbo received after securing the Presidential assent to the Climate Change Bill, a recognition that underscored his resilience, legislative diligence, and historic role in delivering Nigeria’s first-ever Climate Change Act.

It would be recalled that Onuigbo was inducted into the first ever National Assembly Most Valuable Parliamentarian Hall of Fame in May 2023. He was part of five Senators/Members out of the 469 members of the 9th National Assembly to be so honoured. He was the only National Assembly member from Southern part of Nigeria to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

He was chosen in recognition of his contributions to the 9th National Assembly on the basis of qualitative impact, and value especially for his sponsorship of the Climate Change Act 2021 which is inter-generational, globally impactful, and has the capability of laying the foundation for a sustainably developed Nigeria.

Rt. Hon. Sam Onuigbo was recognised as one of the 30 Top Global Leaders on Climate Action by the New York-based Business Insider on 27 November, 2023. He was also recognised by the 10th House of Representatives as a Worthy Ambassador of the House on 28 November, 2023.

In addition to these recognitions, Rt. Hon. Sam Onuigbo has received multiple Meritorious Honour Awards from the U.S. Department of State for his outstanding service and contributions to governance and global climate engagement.

He has also been honoured with Leadership Awards on Climate Change by both the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka “Excellence Award in Environmental Governance” further cementing his standing as one of Nigeria’s foremost voices on climate governance, sustainable development, and public leadership.

Rt. Hon. Sir Sam Onuigbo was one of Nigeria’s delegates to the just concluded COP30 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference which held from 10-21 November, 2025, in Belem, Brazil.