Dahiru Muhammad Hashim

Dr. Dahiru Muhammad Hashim is a Nigerian medical doctor, environmentalist, and public servant. He is the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change in Kano State, Nigeria, known for spearheading climate resilience projects and environmental policy reforms in the state. Quotes Everybody can see how the earth is rapidly changing, the earth’s warming effect is a direct consequence of actions from industrial fossils and over-exploitation of natural resources, which have all resulted in endangering our planet. As leaders continue to ignore the existential threat of climate change, we realize the need to act and protect our planet. Statistically, the United Nations has estimated that by 2030, 70% of the world’s population will live and reside in urban areas. In Kano today, more than half of the population live within the metropolis, accounting for 60-70% of the economic output and employment data of the state. This is a pointer to the fact that failure to act on the concentration of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere would lead to serious negative consequences on economic output, human life, and subsequently the environment. Our aim is to ensure a sustainable environment in which jobs are created, habitats are protected, and biodiversity is restored. Since our inception in 2018, we have more than doubled the number of seedlings we have planted year in, year out. This was made possible through grass root climate education and active community involvement among other strategies. Today, we work with communities, students, and other organizations to plant, save and maintain seedlings to restore our lands from erosion, desertification and excessive heat. Besides, our planting exercises create jobs and protect habitats for biodiversity. In 2020 alone we have planted 5000 seedlings while in this year we have planted 7500 making it to a total of 12500 and still counting. All of these are under our project titled ‘Kano Afforestation Drive’ aiming to plant 100,000 seedlings. Well, our biggest challenge is lack of support from both the government and the populace; attributed to the fact that, the science in climate change is so deep that makes it hard to comprehend. For example, on the 1st October, to commemorate Nigeria’s 61st independence, we alongside, Bayero University, Centre for Dryland Agriculture, NYSC members and other development partners, planted 5000 seedlings in a day at Bayero University (New campus) on selected walkways, gardens, and open spaces. The aim here was to propel the idea of afforestation as a remedy to Nigeria’s topmost challenge; the insecurity. I regret to tell you that, a lot of people make fun of the gesture asking what Nigeria did for us that we were celebrating it that way. External Links