‘Nigerians underestimate importance of planting trees’

Daily Trust: What has religion got to do with climate change?
Hajiya Bola Riskatu Usman: All religious faiths have books, leaders and prophets. Their day-to-day activities and life experience are purely based on the doctrines which they should strictly adhere to. Religion has crucial roles to play and climate change is not an exception. This is where the Islamic Green Club comes in. We have identified climate change as evil (problem) caused by the hands of men, so we seek to make a change with our hands, tongues and prayers.
DT: How far have you gone in carrying other faiths along in your quest to find religious solution to climate change challenge in Nigeria?
Hajiya Usman: Sequel to our registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission, we commenced the identification of other faiths with similar passion of serving humanity through tree planting, some of which are the Abuja Women Of Faith Network, led by Reverend Sister Aghata Chikuelu, Women Wing Of Christian Association in Nigeria (WOWICAN), Federation Of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN), all our yearly projects are carried out with their collaboration. We work together in cushioning the impact of climate change in Nigeria through tree planting, awareness creation and enlightenment.
DT: Any result from your collaboration?
Hajiya Usman: The outcomes so far have been overwhelming. The Abuja Women of Faith Network has spread the gospel far and near. As a result of our work, we and a group of other organisations participated in a Henrich Bol Foundation Project Green Deal Nigeria in 2012, focusing on Nigeria beyond crude oil sensitisation.
DT: What role is government playing?
Hajiya Usman: The Federal Ministry of Environment donated 12,000 seedlings of various species to our organisation. The Federal Capital Authority, Bwari area council and Suleja local government, encouraged us by participating in our yearly tree planting exercise. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture, National Directorate of Employment directed their offices to collaborate with us in our Kwara State project where 120 beneficiaries of both Muslim and Christian faiths were trained in agric business in 2014. It is pertinent to mention that the Central Bank of Nigeria also assisted us.
DT: At what level is your club operating?
Hajiya Usman: Since we are registered with the FOMWAN, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and the National Planning Commission, it means we operate in the entire country.
DT: What has been the most significant action your club has taken?
Hajiya Usman: The projects, ‘Linking Nigerian Prison Inmates to Sustainable Income Generation, Through Agric Business,’ Linking Women and Youth to Sustainable Incomes through Agric Business,’ are rare initiatives. Our project targets all members of the community, irrespective of faith, colour and creed. If a tree is planted in a community, the benefits are for humanity.
DT: The World Islamic Organisation came out to support action on climate change. How can this be domesticated in Nigeria?
Hajiya Usman: The auspicious occasion gathered leaders from all religions with a unity of purpose to mitigating the effects of climate change. There was a symposium where several calls were made on the governments and the governed towards redressing the devastating trend (climate change). Our organisation has started consultation with concerned ministries, agencies and parastatals to organise regional conference aimed at domesticating the Turkey Congress in Nigeria and ECOWAS countries in near future.
DT: What lesson are you bringing from your participation in the World Islamic Congress in Turkey?
Hajiya Usman: We have learnt that synergy of all faiths and religions is germane and has the potential of providing a holistic and pragmatic approach to combating the ugly trend of climate change.
DT: How are families in Nigeria suffering from the impact of climate change?
Hajiya Usman: The sufferings of families cannot be over-emphasised. Climate change has affected the entire ecosystem. The agricultural sector is affected greatly, resulting in insecurity of food, lives and properties. It is monumental, for example, River Kaduna overflowed its banks in late September when houses, farmlands were swept away. In addition, Lake Chad has reduced in size and affected fishermen and livestock farmers in that axis. The oil-rich states of Nigeria, apart from oil exploration, vandalism and poor maintenance of pipelines, also face degradation of their farmlands.