In Nigeria, the Great Green Wall Initiative (GGWI) has been a top priority of the government to address desertification and land degradation in the Sahel region. The National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) was established to implement the GGWI in Nigeria.
Recently, the Director General of NAGGW, Dr Yusuf Maina-Bukar, launched a new initiative to engage the youth in the restoration and conservation of degraded ecosystems in the region. The National Youth Volunteer Programme (NYVP) is a new initiative designed to unlock, harness, and coordinate the vast potential of youth energy in the region into opportunities for achieving holistic nature-based solutions development and realization of the Great Green Wall vision in Nigeria.
The foresight of Dr Yusuf Maina-Bukar in launching the NYVP cannot be overstated. The youth make up a significant proportion of the population in Nigeria, and they are a vital force in promoting sustainable development. By engaging the youth in the GGWI, NAGGW is taking a step towards empowering them to take action in the region’s conservation and restoration efforts. The NYVP is a unique opportunity for young Nigerians to participate in projects that will have a positive impact on their environment and communities.
The NYVP program will engage young people in various activities, including reforestation, afforestation, and agroforestry, while also raising awareness and sensitization about environmental issues. The program will also give the youth the opportunity to assume different responsibilities towards the implementation of the GGWI in Nigeria. Participants in the NYVP will acquire valuable skills and knowledge in environmental conservation and restoration, which they can apply in their future careers.
Through the NYVP, NAGGW will be able to showcase its activities and impact in the frontline communities. The program will promote coherence in NAGGW’s activities and impact by engaging youth in different aspects of the GGWI. With their passion, energy, and creativity, the youth can drive innovation and help NAGGW to develop effective solutions for the restoration and conservation of degraded ecosystems in the region.
In conclusion, the NYVP is a welcome initiative by the Director General of NAGGW, Dr Yusuf Maina-Bukar. The program has the potential to promote youth empowerment, raise awareness, and sensitize young people about environmental issues, as well as enhance coherence in NAGGW’s activities and impact in the frontline communities.
We urge all young Nigerians to take advantage of this opportunity to be part of the solution to the environmental challenges facing our country. By working together, we can create a better future for ourselves and future generations.
A. A. Dahiru, PhD
