Growing up in Kalindi, an oasis in the Tangale country in northern Nigeria, Idi’s childhood was shaped by small-scale agriculture. Figs, shea trees, gum arabic, tamarinds, cucumbers, carob and baobab grew here in great abundance. This lush and diverse vegetation was both a playground and a pantry for Idi – and the basis for a natural and healthy diet.

But in the course of just five decades, conditions in Idi’s homeland have changed dramatically. The desert continued to spread. The once thriving landscape has developed into a barren and barren area. The sight of trees has become a rarity. This dramatic change has inspired Idi to work against further destruction of the environment and for a sustainable life.

As a community leader and researcher at the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) in Abuja, Nigeria, Idi initiated and implemented community empowerment projects. The projects aimed to combat poverty and promote healthy lifestyles, personal growth, food and nutritional security, renewable energy and a sustainable environment. With his specialization in bioprocess technology, Idi came to Germany as a postdoctoral fellow from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Here he worked on the biorefinery of cattails (Typhacapensis) and researched environmentally friendly alternatives to fossil raw materials.