From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged world leaders to move beyond rhetoric and take decisive, practical steps to combat climate change, warning that the threat requires urgent, country-specific action.
According to a statement issued by his media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President speaking at the official launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative (GLI) in Addis Ababa on Friday, praised Ethiopia’s ambitious plan to plant 20 billion tree seedlings in four years, describing it as “an inspiring blueprint to reimagine the future.”
“We have long accepted that climate change is not a problem to be solved in a conference room; it is a danger we must arrest with practical actions, with each nation rising to the occasion by responding to the peculiarities of the ecological burdens they face,” the VP said.
Shettima, who is on an official state visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Abiy, emphasized the unique responsibility Nigeria and Ethiopia share as Africa’s two most populous countries. “Ethiopia and Nigeria are the two most populous countries in Africa. This distinction is not just statistical; it is existential. It means we have the largest stake in Africa’s future. It means that more of our people are exposed to the peril of climate change, and it also means that we face the highest cost of inaction,” he stated.
“This is why we are not mere spectators in this fight. We are partners. We are participants. And we are prepared to play our part to keep Africa green,” Shettima pledged, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to climate action as promised at recent global climate conferences.
The Green Legacy Initiative, spearheaded by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, aims to combat deforestation, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change across the country. The programme has already established over 20,000 nurseries and created hundreds of thousands of green jobs.
“To plant 20 billion seedlings within four years, to establish over 20,000 nurseries, and to create hundreds of thousands of green jobs is to show that the future is something we must plant, nurture, and build,” Shettima remarked, commending Ethiopia’s “clarity, courage, and conviction.”
Prime Minister Ahmed, in his address, called for a continent-wide cultural shift towards environmental stewardship. “This year’s Green Legacy is to rise by planting, and it is in consonance with our plan to shock the world with our Green Legacy vision. We never received any aid when we set out to achieve our 20 billion tree planting initiative,” Abiy said.
He applauded Nigeria’s support, noting, “With its population and growing economy, we are sure that the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as exemplified by the esteemed presence of Vice President Kashim Shettima, will go a long way in raising the awareness and collaborative effort needed amongst African countries.”
Abiy also called for greater reliance on indigenous solutions rather than foreign aid, and expressed optimism ahead of Ethiopia’s hosting of the upcoming United Nations summit on climate change.
Earlier in the day, Vice President Shettima toured several of Ethiopia’s landmarks, including Unity Park, the Science Museum, and the Adwa Victory Memorial Museum, underscoring the country’s historic and transformative journey.
