From Kogi State to a Greener Nigeria
Barr. Ladi Ahmed Jatto, OON
Today, June 5, 2026, the world commemorates World Environment Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness and inspiring action for the protection of our environment.
This year’s theme, as articulated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is: “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future.”
Having worked closely with the Ministry of Environment for more than a decade and currently leading Kogi State’s Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project, I witness the realities of climate change every day.
Here, climate change is not an abstract concept or a distant threat, it is a lived experience affecting communities, livelihoods, and ecosystems.
The theme serves as a timely reminder that nature remains our strongest ally in addressing the climate crisis. Forests protect and enrich our soils. Wetlands absorb floodwaters and reduce disaster risks. Trees cool our cities, improve air quality, and support biodiversity.
This is why the ACReSAL Project is committed to restoring degraded landscapes through effective watershed management, large-scale tree planting, community sensitization, and the promotion of climate-smart livelihoods. Our goal is to repair what has been damaged while building resilience for future generations.
Meaningful climate action begins when public policies are guided by science, when development projects deliver measurable impact, and when citizens actively participate in protecting and preserving the environment.
For me, World Environment Day carries a simple but profound message: environmental stewardship is nation-building.
A stable climate supports productive agriculture, safer communities, stronger economies, and healthier families across Kogi State and Nigeria as a whole.
I remain committed to taking action through policy advocacy, effective project delivery, and responsible environmental practices. The land we restore today is the future we secure tomorrow.
As the saying goes:
“The Earth is not inherited from our ancestors; it is borrowed from our children. Let us return it better than we found it.”
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