Nigeria Adopts Kano Communiqué as International Leaders

USPA NEWS - Nigeria Adopts Kano Communiqué as International Leaders Rally Support for Sustainable Rangelands Ahead of UNCCD COP17

Kano, Nigeria | 30 July 2026

Nigeria has taken a significant step towards strengthening sustainable rangeland management and pastoral development with the adoption of the Kano Communiqué, following a One-day national stakeholder forum that brought together government leaders, pastoralist communities, Indigenous Peoples, civil society, academia and development partners ahead of the Seventeenth Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

The forum also attracted strong international support from leading voices in global rangeland governance, Indigenous Peoples’ advocacy and civil society, underscoring Nigeria’s growing leadership in advancing sustainable pastoralism and ecosystem restoration.

Among those delivering goodwill messages were Igshaan Samuels, Co-Chair of the Global Alliance for Rangelands and Pastoralists; Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Co-Chair of the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC); and Ellen Otaru-Okoedion, UNCCD Civil Society Organization (CSO) Panel Representative for Africa.

Their messages emphasized the need to strengthen global partnerships, elevate Indigenous knowledge, empower pastoralist communities, increase women’s and youth leadership, and position sustainable rangeland management as a cornerstone of climate resilience and land restoration.

The forum, “Shepherding the Future: Nigeria’s Pastoralists and Rangelands Flagship Initiative for UNCCD COP17 and the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) 2026,” was held On 30 July 2026 at the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) Operational Office (APCU) in Kano.

Organized by the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) with support from the Global Environmental and Climate Conservation Initiative (GECCI) and the Nigeria Indigenous People and Pastoralists Forum (NIPPF), the event brought together representatives from Nigeria’s eleven Great Green Wall frontline states, including federal and state government institutions, pastoralist and Indigenous Peoples’ organizations, women and youth groups, researchers, civil society organizations, development partners and private-sector stakeholders.

Throughout the One-day meeting, participants examined the challenges facing Nigeria’s rangelands—including land degradation, drought, climate change, biodiversity loss and increasing pressure on natural resources—while identifying practical solutions to strengthen ecosystem restoration and sustainable pastoral livelihoods.

The programme featured keynote presentations, expert panel discussions and regional breakout sessions that focused on sustainable rangeland management, Land Degradation Neutrality, climate resilience, inclusive governance, investment opportunities and multi-stakeholder partnerships. Participants from the North-West and North-East geopolitical zones developed region-specific recommendations on policy reforms, drought resilience, restoration of degraded landscapes, institutional collaboration, research and innovation, and the inclusion of women and young people in decision-making.

The meeting concluded with the adoption of the Kano Communiqué, a shared national framework that outlines priority actions for improving rangeland governance, strengthening pastoral livelihoods, increasing investment in restoration and climate-smart pastoralism, promoting Indigenous knowledge systems, and enhancing collaboration among government, communities and development partners.

Participants reaffirmed their commitment to working together to restore degraded landscapes, strengthen resilience to climate change and drought, improve food security and support sustainable livestock production through inclusive and science-based approaches.

The Organizing Committee thanked all speakers, facilitators, panelists, rapporteurs, participants and partner organizations for their contributions to the success of the forum and reaffirmed its commitment to translating the recommendations contained in the Kano Communiqué into concrete national actions.

As Nigeria prepares for UNCCD COP17 and continues to commemorate the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026, the outcomes of the Kano Forum reinforce the country’s commitment to positioning pastoralists and Indigenous Peoples as essential partners in achieving sustainable land management, ecosystem restoration and climate resilience. Ends Media Contact Organizing Committee Shepherding the Future: Nigeria’s Pastoralists and Rangelands Flagship Initiative for UNCCD COP17 and IYRP 2026 Organized by: National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) Supported by: Global Environmental and Climate Conservation Initiative (GECCI) and the Nigeria Indigenous People and Pastoralists Forum (NIPPF)