By Abbas Nazil
NatureNews Africa has honoured Engr. Dr. (Mrs.) Bahijjahtu Hadiza Abubakar as one of its Eco Champions, celebrating her outstanding contributions to environmental sustainability, renewable energy development, pollution control and climate action as she retires from the Federal Ministry of Environment after decades of distinguished public service.
The recognition reflects her lifelong commitment to protecting the environment while advancing policies and programmes that have improved livelihoods, strengthened Nigeria’s climate response and positioned the country as an active participant in global environmental governance.
Throughout her career, Engr. Abubakar consistently demonstrated that environmental protection is inseparable from economic development and public health.
As Director of Pollution Control and Environmental Health and formerly National Coordinator of the Renewable Energy Programme in the Federal Ministry of Environment, she championed initiatives that expanded clean energy access, tackled pollution and promoted sustainable environmental management across Nigeria.
One of her defining achievements was leading efforts that attracted the first five solar farm investors into Nigeria and helping the country secure its first 250 million US dollars from the Climate Investment Fund for solar energy investment.
That landmark achievement accelerated Nigeria’s renewable energy transition and reinforced the country’s commitment to reducing dependence on fossil fuels while promoting sustainable economic growth.
Her influence extended well beyond Nigeria’s borders through her leadership in several international environmental conventions and climate initiatives.
She served as Nigeria’s Designated National Authority for the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, the Minamata Convention on Mercury and the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer, providing strategic leadership on chemicals, hazardous waste and environmental protection.
Her global reputation was further strengthened when she was elected Global Co-Chair of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, where she worked alongside governments and development partners to promote policies aimed at reducing emissions of black carbon, methane and hydrofluorocarbons that contribute significantly to climate change and poor air quality.
Her passion for cleaner air also earned her a role as a Temporary Advisor to the World Health Organization on the health impacts of air pollution.
She played a leading role in the global Breathe Life campaign and successfully domesticated the initiative in Nigeria through the #BreatheEasyNigeria campaign under the National Clean Air Programme, encouraging citizens, institutions and governments to embrace cleaner environmental practices.
Recognising that lasting environmental change begins with knowledge, she supported the establishment of the Centre for Energy and Environment Research at Kaduna State University and facilitated partnerships that made the institution home to the only Black Carbon Testing Centre in Sub-Saharan Africa while expanding postgraduate training in renewable energy and climate change.
She also promoted environmental education among young people through the Green Ambassadors Club, inspiring children and teenagers to embrace climate responsibility, energy efficiency and environmental conservation from an early age.
Her commitment to restoring degraded ecosystems found expression through initiatives such as the Solar Libraries project and the Ten Million Trees, Ten Million Hearts campaign, both designed to encourage renewable energy adoption and large-scale tree planting to improve air quality and environmental resilience.
Beyond policy and advocacy, Engr. Bahijjahtu transformed countless lives through the Rural Women Energy Security Initiative, popularly known as RUWES.
The initiative, which has grown into Africa’s largest women self-help network, has empowered more than two million rural women through access to renewable energy technologies, clean cooking solutions, climate-smart enterprises, agricultural cooperatives, solar lantern assembly, skills acquisition and innovative financing, improving livelihoods while reducing environmental degradation.
Her dedication to humanity equally stood out through regular volunteer programmes that brought healthcare, legal assistance, educational support and career guidance to underserved rural communities, demonstrating that sustainable development must always place people at its centre.
These remarkable contributions earned her numerous national and international honours, including the United Nations Global Women Champion Award, a special commendation from the United Nations Environment Programme, the Outstanding Women Leadership Achievement Award, the Women Changing the World Award and the Presidential Distinguished Civil Service Career Award, which recognised her as Nigeria’s best civil servant.
Although she is retiring from public service, her work is far from over.
Her continued research in air quality management, mentorship of younger professionals and unwavering advocacy for cleaner energy, healthier communities and environmental sustainability ensure that her influence will continue to shape environmental policies and inspire future generations.
In recognising Engr. Dr. (Mrs.) Bahijjahtu Hadiza Abubakar as an Eco Champion, NatureNews Africa celebrates not only an accomplished public servant but also a visionary environmental leader whose legacy will continue to resonate across Nigeria, Africa and the global environmental community.
NatureNews Africa wishes her a fulfilling retirement marked by good health, renewed strength and greater opportunities to continue advancing the environmental causes to which she has devoted her life, confident that the seeds she planted in climate action, renewable energy, pollution control and community empowerment will continue to flourish for generations.
