Working closely with the Environment Ministry for over a decade and heading the State’s Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project in Kogi, I see climate change up close every day. It’s not theory here.

The theme is a reminder: Nature is our best defense. Forests that hold soil. Wetlands that absorb floodwater. Trees that cool our cities. That’s why ACReSAL is repairing what was broken through watershed management, large-scale tree planting, community sensitization, and support for climate-smart livelihoods.

“We don’t fight climate change with speeches. We fight it with trees, policy, and action.”

Climate action starts when policies back science, when projects deliver results, and when citizens plant, protect, and preserve.

For me, this day means one thing: Environmental work is nation-building work. A stable climate means stable farms, safer cities, and healthier families in Kogi and across Nigeria.

I choose to act. In policy, in project delivery, and in daily practice. Because the land we restore today is the future we secure tomorrow.

“The earth is not inherited from our ancestors. It is borrowed from our children. Let’s return it better”

Barr Ladi Ahmed Jatto. OON.

#WorldEnvironmentDay2026 #NowForClimate #ClimateAction #ACReSAL #KogiState #Restoration #GreenNigeria #Sustainability