About PIGD
Working for people and planet since 2014.
Prime Initiative for Green Development is a Nigerian not for profit, non governmental organisation. This is who we are, why we began, and what we stand for.
01Where it began
It started with what we saw every day.
PIGD began in 2014 in Port Harcourt, founded by people who saw every day what pollution, flooding and lost livelihoods were doing to the communities around them.
Creeks that once fed families were black with oil. Farmland was failing. Children were missing school every flood season.
02Who we are
Rooted in communities. Connected to the world.
We work with vulnerable communities across Nigeria, especially those living with poverty, pollution, flooding and the wider effects of climate change.
We believe a healthy environment and a decent livelihood belong together. So our work connects them: we restore forests and land, bring solar power to schools and women, improve access to safe water and sanitation, help communities prepare for floods, and give young people the skills to thrive. And we hold institutions and industry to account for their impact on people and the environment.
Founded2014
RegisteredCorporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria, CAC No. 68505
HeadquartersPort Harcourt, Rivers State
Where we workAcross Nigeria
03How we grew
From raising our voice to building solutions.
We started with awareness and advocacy, helping communities understand and speak up about what was happening to their environment.
Over time we grew into an organisation that also delivers practical solutions: restoring forests, bringing solar power and environmental education into schools, improving access to water and sanitation, and opening dialogue between farmers, government and industry.
04Milestones
More than a decade of standing with communities.
A few of the moments that shaped us. Every year adds a new chapter, because the challenges keep growing too.
2014
PIGD is founded in Port Harcourt and registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission.
2021
Our youth delegation takes Nigerian community voices to COP26 in Glasgow.
2022
At COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, we speak up on loss and damage for frontline communities.
2025
Forest restoration and livelihoods project launches in Ikot Ukpong Iman, Akwa Ibom State, with the UNDP GEF Small Grants Programme.
2026
The Secondary School Quiz Competition brings together 16 schools in Port Harcourt with the Rivers State Ministry of Education.
2026
A PIGD delegation attends COP31.
05What drives us
What we believe, and why.
Our vision
A Nigeria where every community lives in a clean, healthy and resilient environment.
And every young person has the education, skills and opportunity to build a secure future.
Our mission
We work with vulnerable communities across Nigeria, especially those living with poverty, pollution, flooding and the wider effects of climate change, to protect and restore their environment, build climate resilience, and equip young people and women with the education, skills and livelihoods to thrive.
With our largest team and deepest roots in the Niger Delta, we deliver change through community action, education, advocacy and partnership.
Our values
01
Community first
The people we serve are partners with knowledge and agency, not beneficiaries waiting for help. Our work starts with their priorities.
02
Environmental stewardship
We protect land, water, forests and biodiversity, because the health and livelihoods of communities depend on them.
03
Integrity and accountability
We are transparent with everyone we work with, and we hold ourselves, governments and corporations accountable for their impact.
04
Inclusion and equity
Women, girls, young people and persons with disabilities are at the centre of our work. We design to close gaps, not widen them.
05
Collaboration
Lasting change needs many hands. We bring communities, schools, government and partners together around shared goals.
06
Evidence and learning
We measure what we do, learn from it, and change course when the evidence tells us to.
07
Sustainability
We build skills, systems and local ownership that last long after any single project ends.
06How we work
Four steps, every time.
1
Listen
We start with communities’ own priorities and knowledge.
2
Partner
We bring together the government, civil society and private partners each solution needs.
3
Act
We deliver practical projects, education and advocacy on the ground.
4
Learn and share
We measure results, learn from them and share what works so others can build on it.
07Leadership and governance
Led with care, held to account.
PIGD is led by a Board of Directors that sets our strategy and holds us to the highest standards of governance and accountability. Our leadership brings together deep community experience and international engagement.
Tito Uzomah
Executive DirectorÂ
Justina Ezurike
Deputy Executive DirectorÂ
Dr George-Best Azuoko
BOT Chairman Registrar School of Biodiversity & Conservation
JamesHarrison Onwukwe
Director, Governance & Democracy
Godwin Ekoh
Director of Grant Writing, Media and Impact Storytelling
Tamunoibuomi Obereniokuma
Director, Procurement & Logistics
Chikwendu Ijezie
Director, Women & Inclusion
Jessica Uzor
Communication Manager
Serekara Fyneface
Program Manager
Ijeoma Chukwuwa
Project Officer
Fidelis Nenyiebari Sampson
Research & Community Engagement Officer
Amarachi Okoroafor
Partnership Officer
Our Board approves our strategy, budgets and policies, and reviews our performance and risks. Our accounts are independently audited every year. Our policies on safeguarding, anti fraud, conflict of interest, data protection and whistleblowing apply to every member of staff, volunteer and partner.
08Our team
Behind every project, a committed team.
Programme, communications, finance and field staff, supported by interns and volunteers from the communities we serve.
09Our international standing
Nigerian voices, heard where decisions are made.
PIGD holds observer, consultative and accredited status with six international climate and development bodies. It lets us take part in global negotiations, share evidence from Nigerian communities, and bring global knowledge and resources back home.
UNFCCC
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Observer organisation
We attend UN climate conferences and follow the negotiations that shape global climate action.
ECOSOC
United Nations Economic and Social Council
Consultative status
We engage with UN processes on sustainable development.
UNEP
United Nations Environment Programme
Accredited
We participate in the world’s leading environmental policy processes.
IPCC
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Observer
We follow and engage with the global science behind climate policy.
UNCCD
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
Observer
We engage on land restoration and the fight against desertification.
GCF
Green Climate Fund
Observer
We follow the climate finance decisions that affect developing countries.
10Where we work
From the Niger Delta across Nigeria.
Our headquarters and largest team are in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, which gives us deep experience in the Niger Delta’s riverine, coastal and oil affected communities. From there, our programmes, partnerships and advocacy reach communities in other states, and we expand to new states each year.
The next chapter
Help us write the next chapter.
Fund, partner, volunteer or simply share our work. Every hand helps communities across Nigeria build a safer, fairer and greener future.