SDG Goal 11 ยท Kaduna & Abuja, Nigeria

Engineering a
Green Resurrection

A community of multidisciplinary change-makers remodeling the African urban fabric โ€” bridging the gap between construction, public health, and sustainable ecosystems.

Explore Our Work โ†“ Partner With Us
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5
Thematic Pillars
4+
Academic Partner Hubs
1
SDG Alignment: Goal 11
Who We Are

A Technical Urban Laboratory
for Healthier African Cities

The Green Cities Initiative (GCI) is founded on the principle that a city's success is measured by the health of its citizens. We are a community of multidisciplinary change-makers โ€” Quantity Surveyors, Architects, Estate Surveyors, Agriculturists, Health Workers, and Environmentalists โ€” committed to remodeling the African urban fabric.

GCI bridges the gap between technical construction and public health, ensuring that sustainable methodologies and building materials create environments that are safe, resilient, and life-extending. By integrating Urban Wellness with Agri-Urbanism and Digital Land Administration, we provide a technical roadmap for cities to breathe again.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

Driven by SDG Goal 11 โ€” Sustainable Cities and Communities โ€” GCI engineers solutions where human settlements are not just structures, but healthy, inclusive ecosystems where every resident can thrive.

"

Every project we undertake is designed to reduce the toxic impact of construction and restore the natural link between the soil and human vitality.

โ€” GCI Founding Principle
Core Activities

Five Thematic Pillars

Our work is organized across five interconnected areas, each addressing a critical dimension of urban wellness and sustainable development.

๐Ÿซ
The Pulse
Urban Wellness & Public Health

Advocating for "Building for Life" standards that eliminate toxic environments and promote respiratory and mental well-being. Data-driven solutions for urban heat islands and air quality in high-density settlements.

๐Ÿ—๏ธ
The Build
Sustainable Engineering & Value Management

Research and deployment of low-carbon, cost-effective materials โ€” including Bamboo shoring and bio-based finishes โ€” through rigorous Value Engineering methodology.

๐ŸŒฑ
The Edible City
Agri-Urbanism & Food Security

Integrating vertical farming and edible gardens into residential and commercial construction to ensure localized food security. Urban reforestation to create cooling effects and natural carbon sinks.

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ
The Foundation
Digital Land Administration & Policy

Advocating for digital land tenure systems and Temporary Territorial Allocations (TTA). Engaging NITDA and Ministries to institutionalize Green Building codes and digital land registries.

๐ŸŽ“
The Movement
#CatchThemGreen Campaign

Establishing Green Ambassador Hubs at KASU, ABU, Kaduna Poly, and Nuhu Bamalli. Specialized workshops for the Young Quantity Surveyors Forum and built-environment professionals.

Purpose & Direction

Mission & Vision

To engineer a 'Green Resurrection' by remodeling the built environment into a healthy, productive ecosystem. Through technical advocacy, digital land reform, and sustainable construction, we bridge the gap between urban development and human wellness โ€” ensuring our cities protect the health of both the people and the planet.

To be the premier catalyst for the 'Green Resurrection,' uniting academic innovation, professional expertise, and community action. Our vision is to remodel the African urban landscape into a safe and sustainable frontier where health-centric infrastructure and digital equity define the standard of living.

Who We Serve

Target Beneficiaries

GCI's interventions reach five distinct groups, each playing a vital role in the Green Resurrection of African cities.

A Built Environment Professionals โ€” The Architects of Wellness
+
Providing Quantity Surveyors, Architects, and Engineers with technical expertise in Value Engineering for green materials and health-centric design. Key Focus: Upskilling the Young Quantity Surveyors Forum to lead the green economy.
B Construction Contractors & Consultants โ€” The Implementers
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Equipping the private sector with sustainable methodologies that reduce project lifecycle costs while eliminating "Sick Building Syndrome." Key Focus: Transitioning from traditional "Grey" infrastructure to resilient, low-carbon construction.
C Academic Institutions & The Next Generation โ€” The Hubs
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Empowering students through the #CatchThemGreen campaign and establishing Green Ambassador Hubs at KASU, ABU, Kaduna Poly, and Nuhu Bamalli. Key Focus: Bridging the gap between academic theory and high-demand green career skills.
D Government Agencies & Policy Makers โ€” The Regulators
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Assisting NITDA and the Ministries of Environment/Works in developing frameworks for Digital Land Administration and Green Building Codes. Key Focus: Securing land tenure and institutionalizing "Urban Wellness" as a public policy standard.
E Local Communities & Vulnerable Groups โ€” The Residents
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Directly impacting health and food security through Agri-Urbanism pilots and improved urban air/water quality. Key Focus: Providing equitable access to safe, "edible," and resilient housing for all.
The People

Board of Directors

BE
Barnabas Emmanuel
Founder & Chairman
QS (Prob.), Urban Health Strategist & Cost Engineer

A visionary leader at the intersection of construction economics and public health. Spearheads the "Green Resurrection" as a Climate Educators Fellow, World Literacy Foundation Ambassador, and lead coordinator for CEPASED Africa and Youth Hub Africa. Pioneering the Gudu Multifunctional Prototype and the #CatchThemGreen movement.

RD
Richard Dambo Dukpa
Director
Peace & Conflict Advocate, Educationist & Researcher

Six years of experience in research, public policy, and advocacy in peacebuilding and education in emergencies. Global Youth Champion for the CFYE programme (Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and Junior Research Fellow at IFRA-Nigeria. Co-chairs Chongai Chronicles Magazine.

ST
Freeman Sophia Tanko
Secretary & Legal Counsel
LLB, University of Jos

A legal strategist specializing in human rights advocacy and social justice. Oversees legal frameworks for GCI's Digital Land Administration and institutional partnerships. Dedicated to securing the rights of urban residents, ensuring "Green" development is inclusive, transparent, and legally protected.

Staff
Hope Gregory Yusuf
Catch Them Green Program Coordinator
M.Sc. Real Estate Finance | Lecturer II, KASU

Bridges academic research and field-level activism. Architect of the Catch Them Green movement, ensuring GCI's Green Ambassador Hubs are economically viable and sustainable.

Dr. Annette Yem Daniel
Head of Organizational Growth & Media Engagement
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)

Brings a unique One Health perspective to urban wellness through biological and environmental synergy. Spearheads organizational scaling and digital narrative for global reach.

Benjamin Daniel
Monitoring & Evaluation Officer
M.Sc. Project Management, UniJos

Technical expert in project lifecycle management and budgetary precision. Ensures every GCI intervention is data-driven and resource-optimized with measurable climate and health impacts.

Osagie Augustine
Head of Technology, Research & Innovation
Lead Data Analyst

Harnesses predictive analytics to solve complex environmental challenges. Leads development of Digital Land Administration tools and turns raw urban data into actionable sustainability strategies.

Andy Williams
Team Lead, Strategy & Community Engagement
M.Sc. Project Management, UniJos

Integrates advanced technology with strategic community outreach to ensure GCI's solutions are adopted and owned by the residents they serve, building resilient long-term social infrastructure.

Sylvanus Patrick Musa
Human Resources Officer
HRM Expert

Cultivates the talent and culture within GCI, ensuring the growing network of volunteers and professionals aligns with core values of health, transparency, and innovation.

Derick David Jega
Director of Urban Space Management & Agri-Urbanism
M.Sc. Agriculture | B.Sc. Agriculture, KASU

A seasoned Agriculturist with over 8 years of experience bridging agricultural science and urban space management. Currently serves as Team Lead, Bauchi State for Babban Gona. Leads GCI's Agri-Urbanism pillar, translating academic agricultural expertise into practical urban food systems and green infrastructure strategies.

Board of Advisers & Lead Researchers (Pending Acceptance)
Mulenga Tembo
Zambia
Dr. James Jatau
Canada
Dr. Sharon Tchat Jatau
Scotland
Prof. Hosea Mande
Nigeria
Hope G. Yusuf
Nigeria
Osagie Augustine
Scotland
News & Events

What We're Doing

The Green Resurrection Redemptionists Cohorts Training flyer
โ— Upcoming Event
The Green Resurrection
Redemptionists โ€” Cohorts Training
Theme: The Living City: Engineering Edible Landscapes & Climate-Resilient Green Infrastructure
Sub-theme: Beyond Aesthetics: Turning Urban Spaces into Assets for Food Security and Flood Control
๐Ÿ”ง Environmental Engineering ๐Ÿฅ Health & Safety โš–๏ธ Policy & Equality ๐ŸŒฟ Agri-Urbanism & Edible Landscapes

A collaborative initiative of Green Cities Initiative, Francis Bitiyong's Foundation, and PACE Institute of Research, Policy and Innovation.

๐Ÿ“… 13th June 2026
๐Ÿ• 11:00 AM
๐Ÿ“ Dinam Hotel and Suites
๐Ÿค GCI ยท Francis Bitiyong Foundation ยท PACE
6
Apr 2026
The Green Resurrection Symposium 2026
Green Cities Initiative ยท PACE Institute (PIRD) ยท Francis Bitiyong Foundation ยท Kaduna, Nigeria

The Resurrection has begun. GCI successfully concluded its inaugural Green Resurrection Symposium in Kaduna โ€” a convening of urban planners, engineers, agriculturists, health workers, digital land administrators, and community advocates united by one goal: engineering healthier Nigerian cities. The symposium opened with a deep dive into Urban Wellness as a public policy standard, drawing on WHO frameworks to make the case that wellness lives in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the spaces where our children play. Discussions spanned Digital Land Administration, Agri-Urbanism, and sustainable engineering โ€” producing a concrete roadmap that feeds directly into GCI's 2026โ€“2027 programme cycle.

๐ŸŒฟ Urban Wellness ๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ Digital Land Administration ๐ŸŒพ Agri-Urbanism ๐Ÿ—๏ธ Sustainable Engineering โš–๏ธ SDG Goal 11
Group photo โ€” Green Resurrection Symposium 2026 Symposium title slide
Presenter at the symposium Attendees at the symposium Closing group photo
#TheGreenResurrection #GCI2026 #Sustainability #UrbanHealth #Kaduna #CatchThemGreen
Financial Model

How We Are Funded

GCI is a registered non-profit committed to fiscal transparency and high-impact resource allocation, operating under a diversified funding model.

๐Ÿ›๏ธ
Institutional Grants
Partnering with international and local development agencies focused on Urban Wellness, SDG 11, and climate resilience.
๐Ÿค
Strategic Partnerships
Collaborative funding and in-kind support from technical partners including The Pace Institute and Francis Bitiyong's Foundation.
๐Ÿข
Corporate & Professional Sponsorships
Contributions from built-environment stakeholders and professional bodies, such as the Young Quantity Surveyors Forum.
โค๏ธ
Philanthropic & Private Funding
Backed by the commitment of our founders and a community of change-makers who believe in remodeling Nigeria's urban fabric.

The Value Management Promise

As a technical organization led by construction professionals, GCI applies rigorous Value Engineering and Lifecycle Costing to every Naira received. We ensure that every donation directly fuels the engineering of healthier, more resilient cities.

Become a Funder โ†’
Ecosystem

Partners & Affiliates

๐Ÿซ KASU โ€” Kaduna State University ๐ŸŽ“ Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) ๐ŸŽ“ Kaduna Polytechnic ๐ŸŽ“ Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic ๐Ÿ“ Young Quantity Surveyors Forum ๐ŸŒฟ The Pace Institute ๐ŸŒฟ Francis Bitiyong's Foundation ๐ŸŒ CEPASED Africa ๐Ÿ’ก Youth Hub Africa ๐Ÿ“ก NITDA ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Ministry of Works & Environment

Join the Movement

Sustainable futures begin on university campuses across Nigeria #CatchThemGreen