By Abbas Nazil
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has blamed human greed, carelessness and the reckless exploitation of natural resources for climate change and global warming, urging governments, institutions and citizens to take collective responsibility for protecting the environment.
Obasanjo made the remarks during a ceremony in Kano held in connection with the Environment and Sustainability Initiative and Trust Fund established in honour of former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abubakar Mahmoud.
Addressing guests at the event, the former president said climate change is largely the result of destructive human activities that have disrupted the natural balance of the environment.
According to him, the world was created in harmony, but selfish actions driven by greed and negligence have caused extensive damage to ecosystems and threatened the wellbeing of present and future generations.
He said humanity has done more harm than good by overexploiting nature and stressed that protecting the environment is a shared responsibility that requires sustained commitment from everyone.
Obasanjo also highlighted his personal contribution to environmental conservation, revealing that he has planted more than 3.5 million trees as part of efforts to combat climate change and promote ecological sustainability.
He maintained that environmental protection should not be left to governments alone, but should involve organisations, communities and individuals working together to preserve natural resources and restore ecological balance.
The former president urged greater investment in environmental sustainability initiatives, noting that long-term action is essential to reducing the impact of climate change and safeguarding the planet for future generations.
Also speaking at the event, the Kano State Government expressed support for the Environment and Sustainability Initiative and Trust Fund, describing it as a worthwhile programme with the potential to deliver lasting environmental benefits.
The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Dahiru Hashim, said the initiative represents an important step towards promoting environmental conservation and sustainable development across the state.
Hashim announced that the state government had approved the release of 10,000 tree seedlings to support the Mahmoud Environment and Sustainability Trust Fund, describing the gesture as evidence of the government’s commitment to environmental restoration and climate action.
Earlier, Abubakar Mahmoud explained that the initiative was established to promote environmental sustainability and protect ecosystems for both present and future generations.
He said the project, which began as a modest environmental campaign, has evolved into specialised conservation programmes focused on protecting surrounding communities and preserving hundreds of plant species.
Mahmoud expressed optimism that continued collaboration among government, development partners and the public would strengthen conservation efforts and contribute to a healthier environment through expanded tree planting, ecosystem protection and sustainable environmental practices.
