Dr. Salisu Dahiru, National Project Coordinator

Dr Salisu Mohammed Dahiru is the National Coordinator of the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) – A World Bank-Assisted Project under the Federal Ministry of Environment.

Born 15th of February 1962, in Keffi Nasarawa State of Nigeria, Dr Dahiru began his formal education at the Ahmadu Maikwato Primary School, Keffi in 1968 and subsequently moved to the Federal Government College, Ilorin in 1974. He obtained his West African School Certificate in 1979. He proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and Kaduna State from 1980 to 1984, where he earned his Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Botany (1984). Dahiru has an MSc Degree in Cytogenetics and Plant Breeding from the University of Jos, Plateau State In 1993, and in 2019, bagged his PhD in Environmental Resources Management from the Nasarawa State University, Keffi.

Dr Dahiru began his carrier in 1985 at the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi where he was a Lecturer. In 1992, he transferred to the Ministry of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja as Principal Forestry Officer and later as Chief Forestry Officer responsible for Forest Resources Management and Administration, and the Coordination of Nigeria’s Accelerated Industrial Crops Production Programme. In 1998 he was promoted to the position of Assistant Director, Parks and Recreation where he was responsible for the Development and Management of the Abuja Parks.

He joined the Federal Ministry of Environment as an Assistant Director Forestry, in 2006. At the Ministry, he served as the Desk Officer, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) where he represented Nigeria at various CBD international fora.  From 2012 to 2013, he served as Special Assistant to the Honorable Minister of Environment; and also, as a Board Member of the Nigeria Agricultural Research Council and National Parks Service Representing the Federal Ministry of Environment from 2013 to 2015.

Between 2010 and 2015, he was, in addition to his other duties, appointed the National Coordinator, Reducing Emission for Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+), a United Nations Programme for Climate Change mitigation. In this capacity, he was the Team Lead and was responsible for Mainstreaming of REDD+ into the country’s National Development Agendas; and enhancing synergies with the Ministry’s Great Green Wall Programme (GGW) and the National Afforestation Programme (NAP). He was also the Lead Negotiator for Nigeria on REDD+ under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

In 2013 while still coordinating the REDD+ programme, he was elevated to the rank of Director of Forestry and Head, Federal Department of Forestry; responsible for the general administration and coordination of forestry activities across the country.

In May 2015, given his strong commitment to national assignment over the years, Dr Salisu Dahiru was appointed the National Project Coordinator of the World Bank-funded Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project. In this capacity, he was responsible for overseeing and coordinating the implementation of Erosion Control Projects in the 23 NEWMAP Participating States across Nigeria.

A seasoned Administrator; Botanist/Forester, Environmental Resources Management and Sustainable Development Specialist, Dahiru is also a Climate Change Expert and Project Management Specialist. He has attended various courses on Project Management; Environmental Sustainability and Governance; World Bank Guidelines on Public Procurement; including Harvard Executive Course on Climate Change. He is a member of various Professional Bodies, some of which include Nigerian Environmental Society (NES); Fellow, Forestry Association of Nigeria (FAN); Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM).

Dr Dahiru is a recipient of several awards and recognitions including Leadership Distinction Award by Nigeria Organization for Youth Advancement (2015); Special Recognition for Contributions to the Development of Nasarawa State by Nasarawa State Governor (2016) and the “Environment Support and Protection Award” by the Environment Outreach Magazine (2016) among others.

He has presented various speeches and delivered several lectures in his chosen field of environmental protection and sustainable development locally and internationally over the years. His hobbies include reading, photography, nature conservation and community service. He is happily married with children.