Abuja: Nigerian and Ethiopian youths have joined forces to tackle climate change, deforestation, and soil degradation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) through a collaborative tree-planting exercise tagged, ‘Plant Africa Fraternity.’
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the event was organised in Abuja under the FCT Administration-Ethiopia youths tree planting initiative themed, ‘Youth United for a Greener FCT: Renewing Hope through Tree Planting’. The initiative brought together youth delegates from Nigeria’s All Progressives Congress (APC) and Ethiopia’s Prosperity Party, aiming to move pan-African diplomacy beyond conference talks into direct action.
Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, Mandate Secretary of FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, explained that the Plant Africa Fraternity Initiative is an international environmental and youth diplomacy programme initiated by the government of Ethiopia. Fasawe added that the initiative serves as a continental extension of Ethiopia’s national Green Legacy Initiative, designed to combat climate change, deforestation, and soil degradation. She described the event as more than an environmental activity, highlighting it as a symbol of Pan-African friendship, shared responsibility, and a common commitment to building a greater and more sustainable continent.
She particularly noted that the planting of Ethiopian indigenous trees in Abuja was a symbol of friendship and shared commitment to fighting climate change and global warming. Fasawe reiterated the commitment of the FCT Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike, to expanding green spaces, combating climate change, and supporting initiatives that foster bilateral partnerships and youth empowerment. The mandate secretary commended the youth wings of the APC and Prosperity Party of Ethiopia for their involvement in the initiative to make Abuja green again.
Earlier, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Legesse Haile, disclosed that his country had planted more than 48 billion trees since 2019 under its Green Legacy Initiative. Represented by Ethiopia’s Minister Counsellor for Political Affairs in Nigeria, Misgna Abrha, the ambassador stated that the country initially targeted 20 billion trees within four years. However, Ethiopia had surpassed the target and set a new goal of planting 50 billion trees by 2030. The ambassador added that the initiative has helped increase the country’s forest coverage to more than 23 percent.
In his remarks, the APC National Youth Leader, Dr. Dayo Israel, emphasized that young Africans must know one another, work together, and take responsibility for a continent they would inherit. Israel noted that climate change is already affecting agriculture, food, public health, security, migration, and livelihood across Africa. He added that although Africa has contributed comparatively little to historical global emissions, its communities have continued to bear some of the greatest consequences. According to him, the tree-planting programme is founded on the belief that African youths must develop stronger relationships and take joint responsibility for the continent’s future.
On his part, Head of Organisation Sector, Prosperity Party of Ethiopia, Mr. Gezahagn Andarge, said the move would strengthen the bond between the two countries. ‘We came here because we believe that the friendship between our two countries must be strengthened, not only through diplomatic engagement but also through practical actions that benefit our peoples and our continent. Today we have chosen to spread that friendship through something very simple but very powerful – planting cedar. We are not simply here to plant cedar, we are here to plant fraternity, we are here to plant solidarity and we are here to plant the future of Africa,’ he said.