Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has urged nations around the world to take decisive and practical steps to combat climate change, warning that it is a global threat that demands urgent and tailored responses from every country.
He made the call on Friday during the official launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative (GLI) in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, where he is on a State Visit.
The Vice President expressed his admiration for Ethiopia’s bold resolve to confront climate change, saying he was delighted to witness a national effort undertaken “with clarity, courage, and conviction.”
He noted that the climate crisis cannot be tackled solely through deliberations in conference rooms. Instead, it requires practical interventions that reflect the ecological realities of each country.
Deforestation and Climate Mitigation
The Green Legacy Initiative is Ethiopia’s flagship programme to combat deforestation, promote biodiversity, and mitigate the devastating effects of climate change. It targets the planting of 20 billion tree seedlings over a four-year period.
Calling on other nations to strengthen their climate adaptation and mitigation strategies, Vice President Shettima stated:
“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.
“Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative is one such response. It is an inspiring blueprint to reimagine the future. The promise of GLI is the dream of every nation. It is a lesson in vision, in purpose, and in audacity.
“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.”
Solidarity and Nigeria’s Commitment
The Vice President emphasised that his visit was not only to show solidarity and exchange ideas, but also to convey the unwavering support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the people of Nigeria.
He commended those who brought the Green Legacy Initiative to fruition and reassured Ethiopia of Nigeria’s commitment to shared green goals.
“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.
“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.”
He further affirmed Nigeria’s continued commitment to its climate pledges, noting:
“It is the promise we have made at the Conferences of the Parties (COP) year after year. It is the pledge we renewed at the last COP in Azerbaijan. And today, we gather not only to stand by this promise but to celebrate the path Ethiopia has illuminated for the world.”
VP Shettima also extended gratitude to the Ethiopian government and people for their hospitality, saying the Nigerian delegation felt truly at home due to the warmth they received and the resonance of shared climate aspirations.
Call for African Partnership
In his remarks, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed called on African nations to adopt the Green Legacy as a cultural ethos, rather than a one-time initiative. He applauded Nigeria for embracing the green vision.
“This year’s Green Legacy theme is to ‘Rise by Planting,’ and it reflects our goal to shock the world with our green vision. We never received any aid when we set out to achieve our 20 billion tree planting initiative.
“We thank Nigeria for supporting and accepting this initiative. 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 awareness and collaborative effort among African countries.”
The Prime Minister emphasised the need for African countries to reduce reliance on foreign aid and instead focus on home-grown solutions, particularly as Ethiopia prepares to host the upcoming United Nations Summit on Climate Change.
Earlier in the day, Vice President Shettima toured Ethiopia’s Unity Park, Science Museum, and the Adwa Victory Memorial Museum—symbolic sites showcasing the country’s historical resilience and forward-looking development.