By Angela Atabo

Save the Children International (SCI) and other stakeholders in the environmental sector have stressed need to imbibe the culture of tree planting to mitigate the effects of climate change.

The stakeholders made the call at a climate sensitisation activity and Tree planting exercise to celebrate the 2024 World Environment Day on Tuesday in Abuja.

The programme was organised by SCI Nigeria under its Children’s Generation Hope Campaign, in partnership with Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), at Junior Secondary School, Piwoyi Community, FCT.

According to Mr Ifedilichukwu Innocent, Advocacy Campaign Policy Manager, SCI, the effect of climate change is on the rise and children bear the brunt of it most.

Innocent said that as a child-centred organisation, SCI designed its programmes around health, nutrition, livelihood, climate change and others and works towards protecting children.

“We are happy as an organisation to be part of this year’s tree planting working with government and other stakeholders.

“We are using this opportunity to also encourage school children to also be part of the tree planting.

“What that is doing is helping them to know is that they have to work hard to safeguard the environment.

“So we are happy that the children are adding their voices and participating in planting these trees,” he said.

Innocent said that there were lots of benefits associated with tree planting ranging from health to economic, among others.

He added that the action informed children about their environment and helped them to work towards safeguarding it.

Innocent encouraged Nigerians to imbibe the culture of tree planting to promote green environment and tackle climate change.

Ms Rebecca Mamven, Deputy Director Environmental Management Department, AEPB, said the theme for 2024 World Environment Day was “Land Restoration, Rehabilitation and Drought Resilience.”

Mamven explained that AEPB’s purpose was to sensitise communities to seeks ways to restore the land back from degradation and stop desertification.

She added that the board was also working to promote drought resilience with planting of different types of trees and plants.

“In the north especially, we experience drought a lot; so, we are here to celebrate this day with our children and to teach them how to address these things,” she said.

Mrs Pauline Nwagugu, Deputy Director, Education and Principal, Junior Secondary school Piwoyi, commended the stakeholders for bringing the tree planting project to the school.

Nwagugu said she was a lover of green environment and had been plating tress in the school since she was transferred there.

She, however, expressed gratitude that the students were being carried along to promote green environment and assured the group of the school’s commitment to sustaining the project.

The Chief of Piwoyi, Tanko Bahago, said the idea of planting trees in communities and schools was a welcome development.

Tanko said that the community had plans to plant trees around but was waiting for the rainy season to do that.

“By planting trees on this day, we actively contribute to the preservation of our environment and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come,’’ he said.

He thanked the stakeholders for the initiative and for remembering his community for such a laudable project.(NAN)

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

By Funmilayo Adeyemi

The Ecolife Conservative Initiative, an NGO, has established an ‘Eco Heroes Club’ at the VineCare Schools, Abuja, to mitigate the effect of climate change.

The Executive Director of the initiative, Mr Chibuzor Akubuike, spoke during the event in commemoration of the World Environment Day on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said the club was necessary to train children how to protect their environment.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the World Environment Day is celebrated every year on June 5 annually, with the aim of raising awareness on the need to fight global warming and climate change.

The 2024 theme is tagged “Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience.’’

According to Akubuike, the club will take up the ‘zero litter campaign’, presently at the VineCare Schools to other schools in Abuja and across the country.

“The campaign is aimed at building an army of students that will be aware of the need to take care of the environment to mitigate the effect of climate change,’’ he said.

Also, the Head of Basic School, VineCare Schools, Mr Taiwo Odanaogun, said the hands-on experiences received by the students played significant role in preserving the country’s natural resources.

Odanaogun said that all hands must be on deck especially educators, to instill in the young minds the values of environmental stewardship and sustainable living.

“Our ‘Eco Heroes: Zero Litter Campaign’ is a testament to our commitment to creating a cleaner and greener future.

“Through this campaign, we aim to empower our pupils to take active roles in reducing litter, recycling and participating in tree planting activities.

“These actions, although small, have a profound impact on our environment,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Guest Speaker, Mr Absalom Jimba, charged the young Eco heroes to take responsibilities as their collective efforts were powerful steps to a cleaner and greener world.

“The theme reminds us of the vital role we play in protecting our environment. Littering only not tarnishes our beautiful surroundings but also harms wildlife and pollutes our water and soil.

“Each piece of litter we see is a small reminder of the impact human actions have on our planet,” he said.

NAN reports that the commemoration featured tree planting exercise by the initiative and students of VineCare Schools as well as presentation of recyclables, non-recyclables and organic waste baskets to the school. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo