The National President of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), Mrs. Edna Azura, has reiterated the Council’s commitment to climate change mitigation through tree planting and environmental initiatives in Adamawa communities, Northeast Nigeria.
Azura, who disclosed this in Mayo Belwa, said the initiative was part of the Council’s “Green Women Initiative,” which followed similar campaigns in Yola North and Hong Local Government Areas of the state.
Azura noted that the initiative was inspired by Nigeria’s national climate objectives and the Renewed Hope Initiative of the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu.
She said the initiative aimed to promote environmental sustainability and women’s empowerment across the states.
“Our goal is simple: we don’t want to see bare land anymore. We want every place to be green,” she said.
According to her, the International Council of Women (ICW) launched a tree planting and smart agriculture programme to strengthen community resilience to climate change.
“During the Mayo Belwa campaign, hundreds of trees were planted across the community. The initiative goes beyond environmental conservation and also targets economic empowerment and sustainable livelihoods for women.
“These trees will provide long-term benefits. Women can generate income from them, support their families, and contribute to food security,” she said.
Azura explained that the broader campaign includes backyard gardening and organic composting to improve soil fertility and reduce dependence on chemical fertilisers.
Speaking on sustainability, Azura said the Council engaged traditional rulers, farmers, and women’s groups from the start to ensure community ownership and long-term success.
“We gave each household a number of trees to plant and care for. This approach ensures that the people are fully involved.
“To safeguard the young trees from stray animals, the local community has also adopted the use of woven baskets as protective guards, which is a strong sign of commitment,” she said.
NCWS also introduced a monitoring and evaluation framework to track implementation from ward to national levels.
“As we speak, the NCWS leadership in Mayo Belwa is fully aware of their responsibilities, and monitoring systems are already in place.
“I am optimistic about the success of the campaign in this community because of the area’s agricultural potential and culture of fruit farming,” the president emphasised.
“It is fertile land with existing commercial farms like Nyako Farms that already export fruits. We are just building on what is already here,” she said.
She added that the programme would be extended to Madagali in the northern senatorial zone as part of efforts to reach all three zones of Adamawa.
The event witnessed participation from women leaders, traditional rulers, farmers, and local officials, further boosting the campaign’s grassroots support.
With growing momentum across Adamawa, the NCWS tree planting drive is emerging as a model for community-led climate action driven by women, sustained by tradition, and aimed at building a greener and more resilient future.