From Alhaji Yusuf, Damaturu
A broad coalition of international organizations, government agencies, and private sector players led by the Tulip International Foundation on Tuesday launched a national workshop titled “Greening Nigeria” to strengthen the country’s climate resilience.
With the theme “Greening Nigeria: Strengthening Communities through Climate Action and Partnership,” the initiative seeks to address severe environmental challenges, particularly desertification in northern Nigeria, by fostering collaboration across all sectors of society.
Speaking at the climate action conference, Aisha Abdulaziz Adamu, a representative of Marchi and Tulip International Foundation, described the project as both a shield for the ecosystem and a legacy for future generations.
She stressed the importance of collective action, noting that while individual contributions are vital, true success depends on collaboration. “It’s not about me, and it’s not about you; it’s about all of us moving forward together. We should not operate in silos, but as a unified system,” she said.
Aisha identified climate change as a human-driven crisis that requires both mitigation of past damage and adaptation to inevitable changes.
She highlighted a broad partnership framework involving the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Youth, the Great Green Wall, as well as traditional rulers, imams, and pastors. “This is a communal process, and everybody must be involved,” she added.
Echoing the urgency, Dr. Babagana Bosso, Head of the Department of Geography and Environmental Management at Yobe State University, outlined the grave threats climate change poses to northern Nigeria.
He described it as a “major thorn in our flesh,” driven by three primary threats: drought, desertification, and deforestation.
Dr. Bosso explained that the “Greening Nigeria” initiative was designed to confront these interlinked challenges through three core pillars: community strengthening, climate action, and collaboration.
“As you know, climate change is not a one-man affair; it is multi-stakeholder and multifaceted,” he noted.