The British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATN Foundation) has launched a project to plant 22,000 trees across selected communities in Kano and Jigawa States as part of efforts to combat desertification, restore degraded land and strengthen climate resilience.
The initiative, implemented in partnership with the Federal College of Agricultural Produce Technology (FCAPT) and Green Legacy, will cover 11 local government areas across the two states.
The project will focus on planting economic tree species such as date palm, mango, guava, tamarind, baobab and neem. The organisers said the programme is expected to improve the environment while creating income-generating opportunities for rural communities.
Speaking at the project’s launch in Kano, BATN Foundation Board Director, Ruth Owojaiye, said the initiative goes beyond planting trees, describing it as an effort to restore the environment, improve rural livelihoods and protect communities from the effects of climate change.
She noted that communities in northern Nigeria are facing challenges including declining soil fertility, changing weather patterns, desertification and falling agricultural productivity.
Owojaiye disclosed that BATN Foundation had invested more than N4 billion in agricultural and rural development programmes over the past two decades, implementing more than 300 projects and reaching over 1.7 million beneficiaries across Nigeria.
The technical lead from FCAPT, Dr Tayo Oni, said the project had already commenced in some locations, with thousands of seedlings distributed to beneficiary communities.
He added that 22 Community Forest Ambassadors had been trained to assist with awareness campaigns, seedling distribution, monitoring and ensuring community ownership of the project.
The Provost of FCAPT, Dr Salisu Salisu, described the initiative as a timely response to environmental challenges in northern Nigeria. He said the institution had provided an additional 2,000 seedlings and expressed confidence that a minimum survival rate of 95 per cent could be achieved through regular monitoring and community participation.
Representing the Kano State Government, the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation in the Ministry of Planning and Budget, Abbas Iliyasu Karaye, commended the foundation and its partners for supporting efforts to tackle environmental degradation.
Karaye said the project was consistent with the state’s environmental sustainability priorities because it combines environmental restoration with economic opportunities for rural communities.
He added that the Kano State Government was considering additional support for tree-planting and environmental restoration programmes in its 2027 budget framework.
The project was formally launched in Kano on August 19, 2026, in the presence of government officials, traditional leaders, development partners, community representatives and environmental experts.
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