Katsina State Governor, Mallam Dikko Umaru Radda, has launched a state-wide tree planting and landscaping project across 120 schools, with each student set to receive 200 trees and ₦5,000 as part of efforts to tackle desertification and climate challenges.
The initiative, implemented in partnership with the Ahmad Uthman Purelife Foundation and the ACRESAL Project Katsina, was inaugurated on Wednesday at Government Junior Secondary School, Koda, in Charanchi Local Government Area.
Governor Radda described the programme as a legacy project that goes beyond planting trees. “It is about planting hope, securing the future, and leaving a lasting legacy for Katsina,” he said.
According to him, the initiative is designed to restore degraded lands, improve forest cover, and build greener and healthier communities. He added that it will also provide shaded spaces in schools, improve learning environments, and instill environmental responsibility in young people.
Radda commended Mr. Ahmad Uthman, founder of Purelife Foundation, for his support, and hailed the collaboration between government, civil society, and the private sector as a model for sustainable development.
Earlier, Uthman praised the governor as a “climate-friendly leader” positioning Katsina as a frontrunner in sustainability. He disclosed that the Foundation has planted more than 30,000 trees in schools, hospitals, and public spaces, with over 10,000 pupils benefiting under its “A Tree for Every Child” project.
The Katsina Development Management Board (KTDMB) also committed ₦25 million to the initiative, which will directly support 200 pupils in each of the 120 schools.
Mustapha Shehu, Executive Secretary of KTDMB, revealed that Katsina will present its climate blueprint at the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York, where the state will showcase its ongoing green initiatives to the international community.
The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Hajiya Zainab Musawa, in her goodwill message, assured the ministry’s support to ensure the success of the programme.
The launch was attended by top government officials, including the state Chief Judge, Justice Musa Danladi; Commissioner for Agriculture, Prof. Muhammadu Abubakar Bakori; Commissioner for Lands, Dr. Faisal Kaita; and other dignitaries, community leaders, and development partners.