BATN Foundation Commences 22,000 Tree Afforestation Project in Kano, Jigawa

Dike Onwuamaeze

The British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATN Foundation) has commenced a 22,000-tree afforestation and natural resource management project across selected communities in Kano and Jigawa States.

BATN Foundation described this as a strategic intervention designed to combat desertification, restore degraded landscapes, improve biodiversity, and strengthen the resilience of rural communities to the growing impacts of climate change

The initiative, which is being implemented in partnership with the Federal College of Agricultural Produce Technology (FCAPT) and Green Legacy, was formally flagged off in Kano in a ceremony that was attended by government officials, development partners, traditional institutions, community representatives, environmental practitioners and members of the media.

The foundation said that the project would facilitate the planting of economic tree species across 11 local government areas in Kano and Jigawa States, combining environmental restoration with income-generating opportunities for rural households.

The species include date palm, mango, guava, tamarind, baobab and neem, selected for their economic value as well as their ability to improve soil quality, enhance biodiversity and contribute to climate resilience.

Speaking at the event, Board Director, BATN Foundation, Mrs Ruth Owojaiye, said that the project is a reflection of the foundation’s commitment to addressing environmental challenges while improving livelihoods in rural communities.

Owojaiye said: “This project is not just about planting trees. It is about planting hope, restoring our environment, strengthening rural livelihoods and reaffirming our shared responsibility to protect the future of our communities.”

According to her, communities across Northern Nigeria have continued to face growing environmental pressures, including declining soil fertility, changing weather patterns, desertification and reduced agricultural productivity.

She said: “The realities of climate change are already being felt in many of our communities. Our response must therefore be practical, collaborative and sustainable. Through this intervention, we are investing not only in the environment but also in the future economic wellbeing of the people who depend on it.”

Also speaking, the Magajin Garin Kano and Board Director, BATN Foundation, Mr. Nasiru Wada, described the initiative as an investment in future generations.

Wada said: “A tree is an unusual kind of investment. It returns value quietly for decades through cleaner air, stronger soil, food, shade and income. What we are doing today is an environmental action, but it is also a decision taken on behalf of future generations.”

He urged communities and stakeholders to take ownership of the project, stressing that the success of the initiative would ultimately depend on the survival and growth of the trees long after the ceremony.

In his remarks, the Provost of FCAPT, Dr. Salisu Salisu, described the intervention as a timely response to the environmental challenges confronting the region.

He announced that FCAPT contributed an additional 2,000 seedlings to support the programme and expressed confidence that the project could achieve a minimum survival rate of 95 percent through sustained monitoring and community engagement.

“The work does not end with today’s flag-off, the real success of this project will be measured by how many of these trees survive, mature and continue to provide value to communities many years from now.”

Speaking on behalf of the Kano State Government, Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Ministry of Planning and Budget, Mr. Abbas Iliyasu Karaye, commended BATN Foundation and its partners for complementing government efforts to address environmental degradation across the state.

Karaye said: “This initiative aligns with our development priorities as a state. It addresses climate resilience, environmental restoration and economic empowerment simultaneously.

“What makes it particularly commendable is that it goes beyond planting trees to creating long-term value for communities.”

The Technical Lead for the Project from FCAPT, Dr Tayo Oni, said that the initiative has already commenced in several locations, with thousands of seedlings distributed to beneficiary communities and transplanting

He added that sustainability had been built into the project’s design from inception through the training of 22 Community Forest Ambassadors, drawn from participating local government areas to support sensitisation, distribution, monitoring and community ownership.