By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, Warri
DELTA; The Energy and Sustainability Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association Young Lawyers Forum (NBA-YLF) has launched a 1,000-tree planting campaign nationwide, as part of efforts to commemorate World Earth Day and promote environmental sustainability.
The initiative, themed “Our Planet, Our Power”, aims to plant 1,000 trees across Nigeria by May 2025. The committee is calling on youth organisations, students, civil society groups, and individuals to partner in the nationwide green drive.
In a statement signed by the Committee Chair, Toma Fortune, the NBA-YLF emphasized its commitment to fostering an energy and sustainability ecosystem powered by law, driven by youths, and anchored in strategic partnerships.
“We urge stakeholders to support us in creating a more inclusive, informed, and forward-moving energy and sustainability ecosystem,” Fortune said.
Team Lead of the Committee’s Sustainability and Environment Working Group, Princess Omeyoma Eshemitan, reiterated the NBA-YLF’s focus on youth empowerment through policy reforms in the energy sector.
Eshemitan, who also serves as Legal Adviser to the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Youth Wing, noted that sustainable human capital development within the energy industry is key to securing the nation’s future.
“As young lawyers, we have a duty to drive policies that sustain youth-led businesses and human capital development in the energy sector. Sustainability of the youth is the sustainability of the future,” she said.
The Committee has also unveiled 17 Sustainable Energy Propositions (SEPs), inspired by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aimed at addressing policy gaps and driving regulatory reform.
The SEPs include youth inclusion in policymaking, sustainable local content, climate diplomacy, green financing, energy literacy, equitable energy transition, host community development, ESG reporting, and technology-driven innovation, among others.
“The SEPs are more than a roadmap. They are a call to action—inviting legal professionals, policymakers, and stakeholders to collaborate in building a sustainable, legally sound energy ecosystem,” the statement added.
The NBA-YLF reaffirmed its commitment to shaping policies that meet today’s needs and protect the energy future for generations to come.