Now That You Have a PhD (III)!
In the first and second series of this article, we spotlighted Mahmoud Bukar Maina PhD FRSA and Michael Taiwo, Ph.D., highlighting how each of them is making a significant impact. This exploration aims to answer our initial question: What can our newly minted PhDs do differently outside the four walls of academia to positively influence their communities? It’s worth noting that both Mahmoud and Michael are not based in Nigeria. While Mahmoud currently resides in the UK, Michael is based in the United States. In this third series, we shift our focus to another PhD holder who is based in Nigeria, debunking the notion that impactful contributions are only made by those living abroad.
Our Hero: Ibraheem Dooba, Ph.D.
Who is our hero in this installment? Why are we spotlighting him, and what impact has he made that warrants this recognition?
Case Study #3: Dr. Ibrahim Dooba
Dr. Ibrahim Dooba is well known among Weekly Trust newspaper readers as “Prof. Brainy,” and he once described himself as “the most obsessed tree planter in the world.” Currently, he serves as the CEO of 200MillionTrees. Academically, Dr. Dooba holds six degrees from institutions across four continents and possesses extensive work experience in the fields of computing, journalism, education, agriculture, and finance. His PhD, in IT, was earned from the University of Technology Petronas in Malaysia.
Why is Dr. Dooba in the Spotlight?
Anyone who has followed Dr. Dooba over the past 15 to 20 years knows that he has been at the forefront of public awareness in areas related to scholarship, education, upskilling, mentoring, and personal and professional development through his various newspaper columns across Nigeria. He is one of the few who have volunteered their time to upskill our youth. As the founder and CEO of Mentor10 Software Engineering, Dr. Dooba has single-handedly trained and mentored Arewa youth in the tech field, helping them secure relevant jobs through boot camps. For example, during the 2020 lockdown, he opened an online school where 500 students and their parents learned HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
While these efforts clearly highlight Dr. Dooba’s sacrifice and selflessness, today’s focus is on his bold and ambitious project of planting 200 million trees in Nigeria. To the best of my knowledge, no Nigerian has ever envisioned undertaking such a noble task.
Dr. Dooba’s work is a commendable example of environmental stewardship, aligning with at least four United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (2, 6, 13, and 15). His efforts to promote tree planting are not only noble but also crucial for addressing pressing global challenges. Trees are vital to the health of our planet, acting as natural carbon sinks, preserving biodiversity, protecting water resources, and preventing soil erosion. By planting trees, we can create healthier ecosystems, improve air quality, and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come. Given the accelerating pace of climate change and the loss of biodiversity, the urgency of tree planting has never been greater. Dr. Dooba’s dedication to this cause makes him a worthy recipient of our spotlight.
What Sets Him Apart? Vision
While anyone can claim to plant 200 million trees, Dr. Dooba isn’t just using this as a buzzword — he is actively walking the talk. So far, 200MillionTrees has planted 150,000 trees, and by their estimated target date of June 2026, each of these trees will produce 20,000 seeds, potentially multiplying into billions of trees. The project aims to plant 300,000 trees across Nigeria, with a focus on Northern Nigeria. One of the most exciting aspects of this project is Dr. Dooba’s strategic choice of tree species. For example, the decision to plant Leucaena is highly commendable due to its benefits for farmers, herders, and the environment. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Leucaena offers several advantages, including increasing milk production by 20% and boosting the yield of cash crops like maize, as it is an evergreen legume that deposits up to 500 kg of NPK per hectare. Additionally, Leucaena is beneficial for the environment as it is drought-tolerant, controls erosion, and combats desertification.
What this means is that Dr. Dooba’s work will contribute to solving three longstanding environmental and social problems: farmer-herder conflicts, desertification, and poor soil quality. By planting Leucaena, he is providing solutions to these issues, which will not only improve the productivity of farmers and the security of communities but also save the nation billions of naira annually.
It’s important to note that Dr. Dooba isn’t just planting trees — he is also partnering with schools and organizations such as the Foundation for Refugees Economic Empowerment (F.R.E.E), which has leveraged its extensive network to engage Emirs, farmers, and Fulani leaders in deepening the culture of tree planting in Nigeria. Moreover, his approach to raising awareness is unparalleled. As a seasoned writer, Dr. Dooba uses both print and new media, such as Facebook, to spread the message of how planting economic trees can save the environment and create wealth. For instance, his article titled “Pawpaw Protest: How to Make N3 Million from 100 Papaya in 8 Months Without Investing Any Money” was shared over 3,900 times, received 16,000 likes, and garnered 1,800 comments.
If you or anyone else is interested in contributing to Dr. Dooba’s project, you can find all the necessary information through 200MillionTrees, or you can fill out this form to receive free seeds.
I hope by now you can see that there are countless ways our PhD holders can make a difference, even without holding public or political appointments. The skill sets I mentioned in the first series have equipped them to navigate challenges and figure out how to make such significant impacts!
See you in the next episode!
