Lafiagi Young Shall Grow Heroes Trees Challenge

Restoring Lafiagi, One Seedling at a Time

In our ongoing mission to empower local communities and restore degraded ecosystems through nature-based solutions, the Savannah Climate Action Initiative (SAVCLIM-AFRICA) launched the Lafiagi Young Shall Grow Heroes Challenge, a youth-led tree-planting competition designed to inspire climate action in schools.

Phase I: Open Call for Participation 

In early May 2025, we announced the challenge across our platforms, inviting primary and secondary schools in Lafiagi to apply. Schools were encouraged to submit interest forms online and prepare to participate in a transformative journey of environmental education and urban greening.

Phase II: Local Engagement and School Mobilization

Between June 1st–10th, our Local Engagement Officer, Mr. Abdul, visited over 13 schools across Lafiagi to personally deliver invitations and encourage participation. Schools visited included:

1. Government Secondary School Lafiagi (JSS)

2. Shepherd Junior Secondary School Lafiagi

3. Government Day Secondary School Lafiagi (JSS)

4. FAQI Islami School Lafiagi

5. Ave Maria Junior Secondary School Lafiagi

6. UBNDawaki Junior Secondary School Lafiagi

7. Tako Gabi Primary School Lafiagi

8. Sonmasun Junior Secondary School Lafiagi

9. Kuchita LGEA Primary School Lafiagi

10. Central Junior Secondary School Lafiagi

11. Maiyaki LGEA Primary Schools

12. Police Children's School Lafiagi

13. UBE/LSS Lafiagi

Phase IV: Distribution of Materials and Official Launch

On 16th June 2025, SAVCLIM-AFRICA officially visited the 10 selected schools to:

• Deliver 100 seedling bags per school

• Provide ₦10,000 support grants

• Hand over planting tools, technical guidance forms, and monitoring sheets
  

The teachers and students received us with enthusiasm, and their dedication to tree planting is nothing short of inspiring.

Phase V: Inspection of Schools (Nursery Establishment)

As part of our hands-on engagement, the SAVCLIM-AFRICA team recently conducted inspection visits to participating schools to verify the setup of their tree nurseries. We are thrilled to report that several schools have successfully established nurseries and begun nurturing seedlings:

• UBE/JSS UBANDAWAKI, Lafiagi

• UBE/JSS GDSS, Lafiagi

• UBE/JSS GSS, Lafiagi

• Dzmata Primary School, Lafiagi

• Somasu UBE/JSS, Lafiagi

These inspections confirm that the schools are actively involved and taking ownership of their reforestation efforts.

Phase III: Selection of 10 Schools

After reviewing applications and verifying readiness, 10 schools were selected based on key criteria, including commitment to environmental action and availability of space for seedling management.

Each selected school agreed to:

• Plant and nurture at least 100 seedlings

• Maintain a minimum 75% survival rate to qualify for the ₦100,000 prize

Monitoring of Tree Nurseries

Ongoing monitoring reveals that seedlings across participating schools are growing beautifully, with students demonstrating care and responsibility for their assigned trees.

Each school is raising at least 100 seedlings, and maintaining a minimum survival rate of 75% is required as part of the competition criteria. This practical involvement teaches students aged 10 to 14 about environmental stewardship, climate action, and sustainable forestry.

This is more than just a competition — it’s a community-driven movement to restore the land and empower the next generation of climate champions.

Engagement with Local Authority

In a bid to foster collaboration and institutional support, our Local Engagement Officer, Mr. Abdullahi Abubakar, paid a courtesy visit to:

• The Head of Department, Agriculture

• A representative of the Local Government Education Authority (LGEA), Lafiagi

These meetings were aimed at officially informing local authorities of the initiative and strengthening cooperation for long-term environmental impact in Lafiagi.

Stay Connected

Follow our updates as the Lafiagi Tree Planting Challenge continues to grow — quite literally. We’re proud of the schools, students, and communities helping to restore our environment one seedling at a time.
Let’s continue to #RewildLafiagi 🌳

Together, we are employing climate-smart innovative technology to reverse deforestation and improve community resilience

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Community Engagements

Sustainable Innovation Practices

Reversing Drought and Deforestation

We promote climate-smart agriculture and environmental education for sustainable community development.

Tree Planting Initiatives

Engaging communities in tree planting for ecosystem restoration and climate resilience.

Land Restoration Schemes

Implementing strategies to combat land degradation and enhance smart agricecological practices.

Fostering environmental education to combat poverty and malnutrition in local communities.

Environmental Education Programs

Lafiagi Reforestation Project

Building carbon and farmed landscape resilience through community forest management

Community Impact

Empowering local communities through sustainable agriculture and environmental education.

The Savannah Climate Action Initiative has improved my understanding of the challenges in treee planting schemes and the need to focus on community's resilience against desertification.

Nana Hauwa Lafiagi, Nigeria

Thanks to the Savannah Climate Action Initiative, we are now more aware of the need to use drone to monitor deforestation and tree diseases

Ahmed Abdullahi

Abuja, Nigeria

★★★★★

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