By Philip Yatai
The Federal Capital Territory Universal Basic Education Board (FCT UBEB) has commenced a school greening and tree planting campaign across primary and junior secondary schools in the FCT.
The campaign was inaugurated on Monday, at Junior Secondary School, Bako, Kwali Area Council.
The acting Executive Chairman of the board, Mrs Florence Wenegieme, explained while inaugurating the campaign, that the move was to mitigate the impact of climate change.
Wenegieme explained that the school greening programme, focussing mainly on economic trees, was designed to instil environmental consciousness in learners while simultaneously improving the physical environment of schools.
This, she said, would increase tree cover, enhance biodiversity, improve air quality, and protect against soil erosion.
She added that the campaign was designed to make every public basic school in the FCT greener, healthier, and more environmentally sustainable.
“To our dear learners, today’s exercise places an important responsibility in your hands. The trees planted here today represent growth, hope, resilience, and a commitment to a better future.
“I encourage you to nurture and protect them. Let them serve as a lasting reminder that every individual has a role to play in protecting the environment and building a sustainable future.
“Together, we can create learning environments that not only support academic excellence but also inspire environmental stewardship and responsible citizenship among future generations,” she said.
She said that the campaign, which would be implemented in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission, would cover the more than 600 primary schools and over 200 junior secondary schools in the FCT.
“By planting trees within our schools, we are nurturing a culture of environmental responsibility, strengthening climate resilience, and creating healthier and more conducive learning environments for our learners.
“Today’s event is more than a ceremonial exercise; it is a deliberate investment in the future of our children, our communities, and our environment,” she said.
Wenegieme pointed out that climate change has remained a serious challenge to human existence, as rising temperatures, desertification, flooding, erosion, and environmental degradation continue to impact communities and livelihoods.
According to her, these realities underscore the need for proactive measures that promote environmental sustainability and encourage responsible stewardship of natural resources.
“The FCT UBEB recognises that schools are not only centres for academic learning but also platforms for shaping values, attitudes, and behaviours that contribute to national development.”
The Director, Junior Secondary Schools, FCT UBEB, Mr Victor Orifah, said that the campaign marks a significant milestone in collective commitment to environmental sustainability, climate action, and the promotion of safe, healthy, and learner-friendly school environments.
Orifah said that the initiative would integrate environmental responsibility into the school system and nurture learners as active stewards of a sustainable future.
“As we gather to plant trees today, we are doing far more than enhancing the beauty of our school environment; we are making a deliberate and lasting investment in the future.
“We are cultivating a culture of environmental consciousness, resilience, and responsible citizenship among our learners.
“Each tree planted represents hope, growth, renewal, and our shared responsibility to safeguard the planet for present and future generations,” he said
The Etsu Kwali, Luka Nizassan III, commended FCT UBEB and UBEC for the initiative, describing it as the “renaissance of tree planting in schools” for a healthier and cleaner environment.
Nizassan encouraged the pupils and students to take responsibility in nurturing the trees as a lasting legacy for the next generation of students in the school.
He also promised to provide tree seedlings for school children to plant in their various homes to strengthen environmental resilience at community level.
“We are all aware of the challenge posed by climate change. If we will get our learners to learn how to plant trees, of course, we are making a good future for the country as far as environmental management is concerned,” he said. (NAN)
Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi
