The National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) has chosen Jigawa State to host its 10th-anniversary and launch the distribution of its ambitious 50 million date palm.
The event marks the first time the agency will celebrate its annual milestone outside Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Jigawa’s selection is no coincidence; rather, it is a recognition of the state’s critical contributions to the agency’s strategic objectives.
The NAGGW is tasked with mitigating the causes and effects of global warming, desertification, and related forms of environmental degradation. Its intervention areas are categorised into On-Land Projects and Off-Land Interventions.
The On-Land Projects focus on afforestation, with millions of tree seedlings raised and planted nationwide through collaborations with governments and communities.
On the other hand, the Off-Land Intervention emphasizes community empowerment, promoting agroforestry, establishing community gardens, and supporting skill acquisition to build environmental protection capacity among beneficiaries.
As the agency marks a decade of service, the NAGGW stands out as a symbol of hope. Its efforts are already revitalizing the social and economic lives of thousands, while significantly improving the country’s environmental health.
Jigawa is one of the 11 frontline states selected for NAGGW’s implementation. To date, the state has recorded numerous success stories, testifying to the impact of these interventions.
During a recent courtesy visit to the Jigawa State Governor in preparation for the upcoming celebration, NAGGW Director-General, Saleh Abubakar highlighted the significance of Jigawa’s role.
He stated that the state ranks highest among the 11 frontline states in terms of Great Green Wall activities and international donor engagement.
He added that the combination of Jigawa’s strategic relevance, the ongoing Great Green Wall operations, and the implementation of projects like the Action Against Desertification made it the ideal location for this year’s anniversary.
“The agency proudly affirms that Jigawa has the highest volume of Great Green Wall activities and enjoys substantial international funding support.
For these reasons, we believe the selection of Jigawa for this year’s celebration, which also marks our 10th anniversary, is truly well deserved,” Saleh said.
At the event, the NAGGW will also unveil a new 5-year strategic plan. Central to this plan is the bold objective of distribution of 50 million trees in the next five years.
As part of its broader strategy, the agency’s Date Palm Initiative focuses on environmental restoration through tree planting while driving economic empowerment, poverty reduction, job creation, and national food security.
According to Saleh, the first phase of the Date Palm Initiative will distribute 5 million seedlings to 250,000 individuals. Each recipient will receive 20 date palm seedlings, expected to begin fruiting within three years.
“Date is an economic tree, and we estimate its annual revenue potential at over ₦300 billion, supported by a strong value chain. We are confident that this project will help foster sustainable development and environmental transformation,” he stated.
Jigawa State Governor Malam Umar Namadi expressed gratitude for the agency’s decision to host the anniversary in the state. “Your visit and your purpose here represent an honour we will always treasure,” he said.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to partnering with NAGGW and other stakeholders to reclaim degraded lands and safeguard the ecosystem.
Demonstrating this commitment, Jigawa was the first state to fully embrace the Date Palm farming initiative. The project combines environmental goals with economic empowerment.
To support the programme, the state has approved ₦615 million for clearing 1,042 hectares of land for date palm plantations and youth training. The initiative aims to empower 5,000 young people—including women—by equipping them with skills in date palm cultivation.
Project sites include: Babura (142 hectares), Birniwa (200 hectares), Birnin Kudu (300 hectares), Garki (150 hectares), Sule Tankarkar (100 hectares), and Yankwashi (150 hectares).
Additionally, the NAGGW has entered into an agreement with several private partners in Jigawa to raise over 50 million date palm seedlings for distribution across 11 states over the next five years.
One key partner is Suleiman Agro Allied Farm, a renowned enterprise with more than 20 years of experience in Date Palm research. Tasked with seedling production, the firm will play a critical role in the success of this initiative.
The company is chaired by Alhaji Bashir Aminu Suleiman, who holds the traditional title of Dan Amar Dutse. He revealed that the firm maintains over 170 varieties of date palms, 12 of which have been selected for the project.
Given Jigawa State’s remarkable track record in implementing environmental policy, its selection as the host for the NAGGW 10th anniversary is strategic and timely.
