AS one of the world’s unquestionably acknowledged great man of the 20th Century (and indeed all-time), Nelson Mandela, prepares to turn 95 on 18th July 2013, the entire world quite rightly, is collectively priming itself to give him a befitting and memorable celebration. It is with a sense of achievement and deserved pride that Nigeria will be an important and integral participant in the multi-dimensional global celebrations of Nelson Mandela’s up-coming birthday.

It is worth recalling that Nigeria, in cash and kind, as well as in its robust foreign policy of ‘frontline diplomacy;’ did more than any other nation in the world to accelerate the final liberation of Southern Africa from the throes of apartheid and Portuguese colonialisation. Nigeria’s total commitment to the liberation of Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia and Mozambique involved all the strata of Nigerian society and, remains unparalleled in terms of a united national effort!

The masses, workers and students were mobilised and contributed handsomely to the national Anti-Apartheid fund; young men and women from the oppressed Southern African countries were given full scholarships to study in Nigerian secondary schools, polytechnics and universities; officers of the liberation movements-ANC, MPLA, SWAPO, were given political asylum and funded; musicians like Sonny Okosun and Emma Dorgu made popular “free-the-people” albums; the media including my humble self, embarked on an anti-apartheid and anti-colonialism blitz; all of these efforts strengthening Nigeria’s loud and persistent voice of protest at the UN and AU. From the Lancaster House Conference to Obasanjo’s prominent presence in the Eminent Personalities Group and, covert military and financial backing of the liberation movements; Nigeria helped free Southern Africa and paved the way for the emergence of Nelson Mandela, Samora Machel and Sam Njouma as leaders in a free Southern Africa!

Sadly though, Nigeria never converted all her huge political investments in freeing Southern Africa into economic rewards in these countries. Rather, the reverse has been the case with many South African companies in Nigeria now reaping astronomical financial profits. The young generation of Nigerians, unfortunately, are unaware of the enormous sacrifices Nigeria made to free Southern Africa and, in South Africa itself an ignorant generation has emerged unconcerned and ungrateful about Nigeria’s role in creatingtheir present-day politically-stable and economically-vibrant ‘Rainbow nation.’ Paradoxically, they have become prone to anti-Nigerian xenophobic attitudes.

Nonetheless, to Nigeria’s great credit, she has continued to play the mature role of Big Brother towards Southern Africa and, on the entire continent. It was no surprise then that at the recent dinner-party in Abuja to celebrate 19 years of a post-apartheid South Africa, the country’s High Commissioner to Nigeria went down memory lane to acknowledge and publicly appreciate Nigeria’s great role and sacrifice in ensuring that a democratic South Africa now exists.

Many decades after, Nigerian institutions and individuals have again turned their focus on South Africa; this time to help the world honour and celebrate an icon of leadership and state-craft who, Nigeria in no small measure contributed in nurturing and sustaining! This time around, it is the Delta State government in response to a proposal by FADE that have partnered to embark on a first-of-its-kind socio-political and environmental project as a novel way and their contribution to the world-wide celebration of Nelson Mandela’s 95th birthday.

According to Dr. Newton Jibunoh, desert explorer, green advocate, founder and Chief Executive of FADE – Fight Against Desert Encroachment, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has made available, on behalf of the people of Delta State, over 134,000 square metres of prime land within the Asaba International Airport complex, to build the Nelson Mandela Garden of 95 Trees.

The idea of planting trees has been a long-time mission Jibunoh and FADE have been involved in for decades. Their most visible tree-planting exercise in more recent times has been the belt of hundreds of trees; known as the FADE Wall of Trees, planted in the arid Makoda Kano, to arrest desert encroachment. However, the idea of planting trees as a celebratory gesture to commemorate a specific birthday; was first put into practice by Dr Jibunoh when on the 1st of January 2013, he; assisted by Governor Fashola of Lagos and other dignitaries that included General Danjuma, Philip Asiodu, planted 75 trees in Lagos to celebrate his own 75th birthday!

How did FADE and the Delta State government get involved in the Mandela Garden project? “A global project is going to be kicked off by ‘Mandela Is’ in South Africa on Mandela’s birthday, July 18th, to start the whole celebration. In addition, the United Nations has declared his birthday as World Mandela Day to be celebrated every year throughout the world,” Jibunoh explains.

“A combination of all that,” he continues, “made us in FADE to think of a place that would be most suited for the celebration of such an iconic event. We thought about Lagos, Kano where FADE is based and Delta. After reviewing a number of issues to do with security and, the kind of place needed and considering that my 75th birthday was held in Lagos, we decided to shift a little bit. And apart from the fact that I am from Delta State, the State has a wonderful disposition and Governor Uduaghan has always been preaching going green for some time now. So we sold the idea of a Mandela Garden and they have given us a place at the Asaba International Airport complex with a river running across the site.”

Work has started, the space cleared, mapped out; consultants have been engaged, architects and engineers as well, to get the first phase completed. Results have been sent to the Delta State government, the South African embassy in Nigeria and the Mandela family in South Africa.

Jibunoh proudly admits that for a good part of his life, he has been inspired by Mandela; even now that he is in ill-health. “I followed Mandela’s arrest and trial as a teenager,” he states. What then is the linkage between ‘Mandela Is’ and the environment? “’Mandela Is’, is an organisation founded by the children and grandchildren of Mandela; which is going to become an instrument that will be used to propagate those things Mandela stood for. To keep his legacy alive for the rest of the world, because his iconic nature is such that the entire global community is needed to get involved. And in doing so, one is looking at a bottom-up project that will carry those legacies; with community involvement with people of different ages. We cannot think of anything better than one that will carry environmental connotations because that’s what Mandela stood for.”

“That’s the kind of message we want to carry to the communities,” Jibunoh explains. “To the young, the youths, the employed and unemployed; anything to do with protecting the environment and, environment being a topical issue today, I cannot think of a better initiative to sustain Mandela’s legacy. The target of ‘Mandela Is’, is to mobilise one billion people around the world; anyway they can in promoting and developing that legacy.”

Naturally, the Asaba Mandela Garden is going to be grand as befits the great man himself and, will contain many structures. “We are going to start with 95 trees to celebrate Mandela’s birthday,” Jibunoh says. “There will be trees that will be relevant to the environment because we do not want to import trees. It will be trees that we know will nurture well considering the kind of soil condition we have. There are some trees already in the land we are using and, we have identified them and we are going to introduce similar trees to make up the 95 trees to be used to celebrate Mandela’s birthday.”

Of course there are going to be artistic as well as geographical elements in defining the landscape of the Garden.

“We are going to use trees to create the map of Africa so that when one is flying you can look down and see a map of Africa which is going to be known as the Mandela Garden of 95 Trees. And in that map of Africa,” Jibunoh further elaborates, “you are going to have South Africa decorated with trees, you are going to have Nigeria because of the role Nigeria played in liberating South Africa and then you are going to have Robben Island. All these have been architectured. That will be the first phase of the project. In addition, there will be bars, children’s playgrounds, and a keeper’s lodge. We are going to introduce fishes into the river on the site and other game that will not interfere with the airport operations.”

How would this obvious mix of history, the environment and tourism fit together and operate seamlessly for the most good? Jibunoh believes that, “For people landing and taking off from the Asaba International Airport, it will be an entertainment for them. It will be a place for them to go when they are waiting for their flights or when flights are delayed; and a place where they can go and relax and, if they have children, where their children can play. It is a place where tourism will thrive.”

He has also suggested to the Governor that visiting Heads of State and dignitaries could be taken to the Asaba Mandela Garden. “It will be a historical thing for dignitaries and Heads of State to visit and plant trees. That aspect too will add to the connotation given to most tourism initiatives around the world. In doing so, one would be establishing a carbon footprint in terms of adding to the environmental initiatives that we in FADE believe in,” he says.

There will also be provisions made for intellectual pursuit. Acknowledging the fact that the land is massive, Jibunoh assures that he and his team will not restrict themselves to the Garden alone. There are going to be three or four stages of development and, architects, horticulturists and historians have already been engaged to plan the various stages of the development.

“In the second phase,” he points out, “in conjunction with the South African embassy in Nigeria and the South African government, we are looking at a library where historical information, historical artefacts to do with Mandela will be on display. So it is something that will go on for many years.”

The Asaba Mandela Garden, as part of a world-wide celebration also provides an opportunity for Nigeria to make an important political statement. According to Jibunoh, “It should also be used in remembering and recalling that role Nigeria played towards the liberation of the continent. We are going to partner with our Ministry of Foreign Affairs because South Africans are coming, the Mandela family will be coming and, I know other countries are going to be invited by the Delta State government and the Ministry of Tourism.”

The first phase of the Asaba Mandela Garden of 95 Trees; which will eventually also be decorated with a giant sculpture of Nelson Mandela himself, will be ready in August; with restrooms, snack bars and a few playgrounds for children. The official commissioning will be between the 15th and end of August 2013 depending on the enormous protocol arrangements and alignments needed to be put in place. Meanwhile a huge strategically-located billboard will be unveiled in Asaba on Monday May 13th 2013 to officially announce the landmark project.