Fighting Climate Change in Yobe: NGO Provides 200 Seedlings to Bolster Local Resilience



By Yusuf A Yusuf, Damaturu 

In a proactive move to mitigate the effects of climate change in Yobe State, Plan International Nigeria has launched a two-day sensitization and tree planting campaign aimed at bolstering local resilience. 

The initiative, carried out under the Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance (ZCRA) project, targeted the communities of Pomamari and Nayi-Nawa, with a specific focus on educating and empowering women and youth.

The exercise is designed to address environmental degradation while highlighting the long-term economic advantages of afforestation.

Nubwa Ibrahim Bawuro, Social Behavioral Change Communications Officer for Plan International Nigeria, stated that the campaign is part of a broader intervention in Adamawa and Yobe States. 

She explained that the project was born out of a needs assessment that identified a critical lack of vegetation in the two communities.

“Following that assessment, we brought 200 seedlings, specially selected by climate experts to suit the local soil, along with protectors for the trees.“Our goal is to sensitize community members on tree care and support them in nurturing these trees for a sustainable environment,"said Nubuwa 

During the awareness session, environmental expert Mallam Mohammad Gambo Paga delivered an intensive lecture on the dangers of climate change and the multifaceted benefits of tree planting. 

He urged residents to protect the young trees from stray animals to ensure their survival and maximize their environmental impact.

Academics and government partners threw their weight behind the initiative. Dr. Babagana Bosso of Yobe State University, represented by Mallam Mohammed AbdulRahaman, encouraged beneficiaries to view the trees as long-term assets.

“When fully grown, some of these trees will provide timber. They also serve medicinal purposes, offer shade, produce fruits, and contribute to manure,” he noted, stressing the importance of proper planting techniques such as digging adequate holes.

Representatives from the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and local climate advocates also highlighted the urgency of the project. 

Sabiu Maikwano of the NOA and Halima Usman, a Climate Change Champion in Yobe, highlighted the state’s battle with severe desertification.

"It is commendable to plant trees in every community where people live. This is a vital step in fighting the menace of desertification across the state,” they remarked.

Traditional leaders, including the District Head of Nayi-Nawa, Alhaji Abba Kalli Murfama, and the Ward Head of Pompomari, Lawan Modu, expressed gratitude to Plan International Nigeria.

Alongside youth and women’s groups, they praised the organization for both the knowledge shared and the provision of free seedlings, describing the effort as tangible support in the fight for a greener future.

The event featured sensitization and hands-on planting exercises across both Pompomari and Nayi-Nawa, marking a significant step in community-led climate action.

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