By Auwal Ahmad Umar

The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Gashua (FUGA), Professor Yaqub Ahmed Geidam, has officially launched the FUGA Green Code (FGC), an institutional environmental initiative aimed at combating desertification, restoring vegetation and promoting climate resilience through tree planting.

This was contained in a press statement signed by Adamu Saleh, Deputy Director, Information and Public Relations of the University made available to Northeast State Magazine in Damaturu.

The initiative was launched on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at the University under the theme “Restoring the Climate through Tree Planting.” The ceremony was attended by the Mai Bade, representatives of the Federal and Yobe State Governments, members of the University community, development partners, traditional leaders, students, members of the host community, and the media.

Speaking at the occasion, Professor Geidam described the FUGA Green Code as more than a tree-planting campaign, calling it a long-term institutional commitment to environmental restoration, sustainability and climate action.

He noted that the realities of climate change and desertification in Yobe State were evident in declining vegetation, exposed soil, rising temperatures, wind erosion and increasing pressure on natural resources. As a university situated within the fragile Sudano-Sahelian environment, he said, FUGA could not afford to merely discuss environmental challenges without taking practical steps to address them.

The Vice-Chancellor explained that the initiative was designed not only to increase tree cover but also to restore degraded land, protect the environment, improve the University campus, restore biodiversity and cultivate a culture of environmental responsibility among staff, students and the wider community.

He said the University was determined to transform FUGA into a model Green Campus for the Nigerian dryland environment, where sustainability would be practised and demonstrated, not just taught in classrooms.

Professor Geidam noted that purposeful action, scientific knowledge, innovation and community participation could help restore the environment despite the challenges posed by the Sahelian climate. Addressing students, he urged them to take ownership of the initiative through the FGC Student Ambassadors Programme, which is expected to produce environmental champions and climate advocates among the student population.

He challenged them to embrace the slogan “One Student, One Tree,” stressing that planting a tree was only the beginning—nurturing it to maturity was the real measure of success.
“You must become not merely tree planters, but tree custodians. Every tree you plant should become a living symbol of your contribution to the future,” he said.

Professor Geidam also called for partnerships with government agencies, development organisations, the private sector, civil society organisations, environmental institutions, traditional leaders and host communities to expand the impact of the initiative, saying such collaborations would focus on tree planting, environmental research, climate education, innovation, capacity building and community engagement.

He emphasised that the University’s environmental responsibility extended beyond its campus, noting that FUGA and its host communities shared the same environment and faced similar climate-related challenges.

He therefore expressed the University’s readiness to work with traditional institutions, farmers, youths, community organisations and other stakeholders to extend the FUGA Green Code beyond the University.

Professor Geidam assured that Management was committed to making the initiative a long-term institutional programme rather than a one-day campaign, and would support research, partnerships, student participation, staff engagement and community involvement.

He described the FUGA Green Code as the University’s response to desertification, a contribution to climate resilience and an investment in the wellbeing of present and future generations.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of the FUGA Green Code Committee, Professor James Ishaku Dantata, described the initiative as more than a tree-planting campaign a collective commitment to environmental stewardship, climate resilience, combating desertification, restoring biodiversity and building a model green campus for future generations.

Professor Dantata noted that FUGA was located within a fragile Sahel ecosystem, and that the initiative aimed to encourage members of the University community and neighbouring communities to become custodians of nature by planting, nurturing and protecting trees while promoting sustainable environmental practices.

He stressed that the success of the FUGA Green Code would not be measured by the number of trees planted on launch day, but by the number that survived through sustained care and protection, urging the University community to embrace the spirit of “Plant, Protect and Preserve.”

“As we formally launch the FUGA Green Code today, let this day be remembered as the day we collectively resolved to transform our campus into a thriving symbol of environmental sustainability and climate action,” he said.
Signed:

  Sheikh Al-Moustapha Kouyateh Pushes Pan-African Agenda, Calls for Industrialised and Sovereign Africa

By Auwal Ahmad

Sheikh Al-Moustapha Kouyateh, widely known as “Farafina Mansa,” has renewed his call for a united, economically independent and industrialised Africa, urging African nations to prioritise local value addition, accountable leadership and reconciliation as the foundation for sustainable development.

The prominent Pan-African advocate, who previously served as Liberia’s Ambassador-at-Large, High Representative for Special Missions and Special Envoy to the President, has built his public profile around a vision that seeks to transform Africa from a supplier of raw materials into a continent driven by manufacturing, innovation and economic self-reliance.

Speaking through his long-standing advocacy, Kouyateh argues that Africa’s vast natural resources should serve as a catalyst for prosperity on the continent rather than enriching foreign economies.

“Africa must control its own destiny by processing its resources locally, creating industries, jobs and wealth for its people,” Kouyateh has consistently maintained in articulating his development philosophy.

At the centre of Kouyateh’s agenda are four principles he describes as essential for Africa’s future: reconciliation, empowerment, accountability and development.

According to him, lasting peace and national cohesion are prerequisites for political stability and economic progress. He believes African countries must first address internal divisions before pursuing broader continental integration.

He also advocates empowering Africans to take greater control of their economies through industrial growth and local ownership of strategic sectors, while insisting that public officials must remain accountable for the management of national resources.

For Kouyateh, development should ultimately translate into improved living standards for ordinary citizens rather than benefiting only political or business elites.

One of the concepts closely associated with Kouyateh’s advocacy is what he calls “Dangotization”—an economic model that encourages African countries to process their raw materials locally instead of exporting them in their unprocessed form.

The idea, inspired by Africa’s growing industrial capacity, promotes investment in manufacturing, value addition and domestic industries capable of generating employment and strengthening economic sovereignty across the continent.

Supporters of the approach argue that it could reduce Africa’s dependence on imported finished goods while increasing revenue from its abundant natural resources.

Kouyateh served for more than two years in Liberia’s government as Ambassador-at-Large and Special Envoy, during which he said he declined remuneration attached to the office.

He explained that the decision reflected an earlier pledge made during his 2014 Senate campaign in Montserrado County to dedicate much of his income to public-interest causes, including education, healthcare and governance reforms.

During his tenure, however, Kouyateh became an outspoken critic of the management of Liberia’s natural resources, arguing that concession agreements involving key mineral assets delivered insufficient benefits to Liberians.

He also raised concerns about transparency in contracts involving major international mining companies, including references to agreements with ArcelorMittal.

His remarks generated political debate and drew criticism from sections of Liberia’s political establishment. After declining calls by lawmakers to retract some of his statements and apologise publicly, he eventually left office following a vote of no confidence.

Following his exit from government, Kouyateh intensified his Pan-African activities through the establishment of the African People’s Movement (APM), an organisation that promotes African unity, economic independence and responsible governance.

The movement is described by its promoters as one inspired by leading Pan-African thinkers, including Professor PLO Lumumba, and seeks to advance policies that encourage continental integration beyond national and ethnic boundaries.

Its vision centres on an Africa capable of transforming its own resources, strengthening regional cooperation and ensuring that economic growth directly benefits African citizens.

Kouyateh continues to advocate for deeper cooperation among African nations, arguing that sustainable prosperity depends on industrialisation, responsible leadership and stronger economic integration.

His message consistently emphasises reconciliation among peoples, economic empowerment, transparency in governance and development that creates opportunities for future generations.

For many supporters, the man known as “Farafina Mansa” remains one of the contemporary voices championing an Africa that is politically sovereign, economically resilient and firmly in control of its own development path.

Ex-Gombe Deputy Governor Hails Velocity Foundation for Empowering Christian Clergy in Gombe

By Auwal Ahmad Umar

Former Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Charles Iliya, has praised the humanitarian efforts of the Velocity Humanitarian Foundation, describing its support for Christian clergy as a significant contribution to peacebuilding, religious tolerance and community development in the state.

Speaking at an empowerment programme organised by the foundation, Iliya said the initiative reflects the founder’s commitment to promoting unity and improving the welfare of religious leaders, regardless of faith or background.

He noted that the intervention would enable Christian clerics to strengthen their service to their congregations while encouraging peaceful coexistence among people of different religious beliefs.

According to him, the foundation’s decision to extend assistance to Christian leaders demonstrates that genuine humanitarian service should not be influenced by ethnic or religious considerations.

Iliya said such interventions complement government efforts aimed at improving the living conditions of vulnerable residents and fostering social cohesion across communities.

He urged the Velocity Humanitarian Foundation to sustain its charitable programmes, stressing that many disadvantaged families and religious leaders would continue to benefit from its interventions.

The former deputy governor also appealed to wealthy individuals, corporate organisations and other philanthropists to emulate the foundation by investing in initiatives that promote inclusiveness, social welfare and sustainable community development.

Also speaking, the Gombe State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Mohammed Inuwa Dantata, commended the foundation for demonstrating that compassion and humanitarian service should rise above political, ethnic and religious differences.

He said the foundation’s support for Christian clergy sends a strong message of unity and mutual respect, values he described as critical to maintaining peace and stability in Gombe State.

Dantata encouraged beneficiaries to make effective use of the assistance provided to improve their lives and communities, while urging the foundation to broaden its humanitarian outreach to include more vulnerable groups across the state.

Representing the foundation, Abubakar Danzariya said the organisation remains committed to supporting vulnerable people irrespective of their religion, ethnicity or political affiliation.

He explained that the empowerment of Christian clergy aligns with the foundation’s broader vision of reducing hardship, promoting social justice and strengthening harmony among diverse communities in Gombe State.

According to him, the founder of the foundation, Engr. Aliyu Muhammad Kombat, believes that every citizen deserves equal opportunities and access to support that can improve their standard of living.

Danzariya said the foundation would continue to implement programmes in education, healthcare, youth and women empowerment, humanitarian assistance and community development as part of its long-term strategy for improving livelihoods.

He added that the interventions are designed to produce sustainable results by enhancing the well-being of vulnerable residents and creating opportunities for self-reliance.

Danzariya also appreciated community leaders, Christian organisations and volunteers who partnered with the foundation to ensure the successful implementation of the programme.

He reaffirmed the commitment of Engr. Kombat to building a more peaceful, united and prosperous society through sustained humanitarian interventions that reach people without discrimination.