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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Environment & Climate

Yobe varsity to make tree planting graduation requirement

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Yobe State University plans to make tree planting a graduation requirement for students.
  • The initiative aims to promote environmental sustainability across the institution.
  • Students will need to plant and nurture at least one tree from admission to graduation, potentially providing evidence for clearance.

Yobe State University is introducing a novel environmental initiative that will require students to plant and sustain at least one tree throughout their academic journey as a prerequisite for graduation.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Muhammad Bashir Tahir announced the proposed policy on Thursday during the 2026 Tree Planting Initiative event, organized by the Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management. The initiative, themed “Greening Our Faculty for a Sustainable Future,” aims to embed environmental stewardship within the university's culture.

Under the new policy, each student will be tasked with planting and nurturing a tree from their admission until they are cleared to receive their certificates. Tahir emphasized the critical role of trees in preventing erosion and flooding, providing shade, and creating a conducive learning environment. He also noted their value as natural laboratories for students in various science disciplines.

Every student will be expected to plant and nurture at least one tree from the time of admission until graduation.

— Prof. Muhammad Bashir TahirOutlining the new graduation requirement.

"Every student will be expected to plant and nurture at least one tree from the time of admission until graduation," Prof. Tahir stated. "They may be required to show evidence of the tree they planted and sustained before they are cleared to receive their certificates."

The Vice-Chancellor commended the student initiators, Mohammed Mallam Mohammed and Hauwa Ahmed Damagum, both 300-level students, for championing the idea. He also acknowledged the support from the North East Arid Zone Development Programme and Green City Garden. Tahir directed the forestry department to collaborate with the Directorate of Works and Physical Planning to organize annual tree-planting competitions among faculties and departments, promising awards for the best-performing units to ensure the program's sustainability.

They may be required to show evidence of the tree they planted and sustained before they are cleared to receive their certificates.

— Prof. Muhammad Bashir TahirDetailing the potential verification process for the tree planting requirement.
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Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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