Abuja: The Emir of Zazzau, Malam Ahmed Bamalli, has inaugurated a major tree-planting exercise along sections of Zaria’s ancient city walls, representing a historic blend of cultural preservation, environmental sustainability, and ecological action.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the event, which took place on Monday, marked the completion of the Women Empowerment and Climate Resilience Initiative (WECRI), an impactful environmental project executed by the civil society group, Bridge That Gap Hope for Africa Initiative (BTG). Supported by the Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement (PACE), BTG has successfully planted 6,000 trees under the WECRI project, with 2000 trees each in Chikun, Zangon Kataf, and Zaria Local Government Areas of Kaduna State.
Bamalli planted the first tree along the iconic city walls, an ancient structure famously associated with the legendary 16th-century warrior, Queen Amina. Addressing guests and community leaders at the palace, the royal father expressed appreciation to the BTG team for their commitment to the welfare of the Zazzau Emirate, noting the exercise’s potential to address soil degradation.
Emphasising the urgent need for land reclamation efforts, Bamalli highlighted the strategic timing of the exercise, noting that the ongoing rainy season provides optimal soil moisture for the saplings to root effectively and thrive. Demonstrating unified leadership, key members of the Zazzau Traditional Council, including the District Head of ‘Birni da Kewaye’, Alhaji Sambo Idris, joined the Emir in planting trees.
After the inauguration, the BTG team and community volunteers distributed the remaining seedlings to pre-selected planting sites spanning various vulnerable zones across Zaria. In his remarks, BTG Programme Officer, Mr. Zinta Akpoko, explained that the project aims to promote environmental sustainability and contribute to the protection and restoration of sections of the centuries-old city walls affected by erosion and encroachment.
He noted that over the years, vast sections of these mud walls have suffered severe degradation due to unchecked soil erosion and human encroachment. The tree-planting exercise represents not only an environmental intervention but also a step towards preserving Zaria’s historical heritage while promoting community participation in climate resilience.
Akpoko described the Emir’s direct involvement as ‘a crucial catalyst for long-term project sustainability’, underscoring the power of traditional authority in climate action. The programme officer said that the tree planting exercise marked the completion of WECRI, a project designed to strengthen community resilience through locally led climate adaptation and environmental sustainability initiatives.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that BTG had earlier decorated the Emir of Zazzau as a ‘Climate Ambassador’ in recognition of his advocacy for grassroots environmental solutions.