By Abbas Nazil
The Federal University Gashua (FUGA) has launched its Green Code Initiative (GCI), an institutional environmental programme designed to combat desertification, restore vegetation cover and strengthen climate resilience in Yobe State.
The initiative was officially launched on Saturday in Gashua, Yobe State, under the theme, “Restoring the Climate through Tree Planting.”
The Vice-Chancellor of FUGA, Prof. Yaqub Ahmed Geidam, who unveiled the initiative, said the programme goes beyond conventional tree-planting campaigns, describing it as a long-term institutional commitment to environmental restoration, sustainability and climate action.
According to him, the initiative was necessary because of the worsening environmental challenges confronting Yobe State, including declining vegetation, exposed soil, rising temperatures, wind erosion and increasing pressure on natural resources.
Geidam noted that FUGA is located within the fragile Sudano-Sahelian ecological zone, making it imperative for the university to take practical measures to address climate change and desertification rather than limiting discussions to academic settings.
He explained that the Green Code Initiative would focus on increasing tree and vegetation cover, restoring degraded land, protecting biodiversity and creating a culture of environmental responsibility among students, staff and surrounding communities.
The vice-chancellor said the university’s long-term ambition was to transform FUGA into a model green campus for Nigeria’s dryland regions, where environmental sustainability would be demonstrated through practical action as well as taught in classrooms.
He stressed that scientific knowledge, innovation, purposeful environmental action and community participation could help restore degraded landscapes despite the harsh conditions associated with the Sahelian environment.
As part of efforts to involve students, Geidam announced the FGC Student Ambassadors Programme, which is expected to develop environmental champions and climate advocates within the university community.
He challenged students to embrace the “One Student, One Tree” campaign, stressing that planting trees should not be regarded as the end of the exercise.
According to him, nurturing planted trees until maturity would be the real measure of the initiative’s success, urging students to become tree custodians and environmental stewards.
The launch attracted the Emir of Bade, representatives of the Federal and Yobe State Governments, university officials, development partners, traditional leaders, students, members of the host community and media representatives.
Geidam also called for stronger partnerships between the university and government agencies, development organisations, private-sector institutions, civil society organisations, environmental bodies, traditional authorities and host communities.
He said such partnerships would support tree planting, environmental research, climate education, innovation, capacity building and community engagement.
The vice-chancellor further emphasised that FUGA’s environmental responsibility should not end within the university campus, noting that the institution and surrounding communities share the same fragile environment and face similar climate-related pressures.
The Green Code Initiative therefore positions the university as an active participant in efforts to restore degraded landscapes and build greater climate resilience across the Nigerian dryland region.
