NGO Educates IDPs Children On Tree Planting Benefits

By Jacinta Nwachukwu

The Future of Nigeria Youth Initiative, an NGO, has taken its campaign of planting one million trees to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Durumi, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Mrs Noni Okocha, Chief Executive of the Initiative said during the campaign in Abuja, that the project was targeted at children of the IDPs to foster environmental awareness and sustainability among them.

Okocha said the project was designed to arm the children with the understanding of the climate crisis and the power to make a difference.

“Project one million books – children – trees for climate action” is a pilot initiative and it aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ to promote echo – conscious initiative.

“The project is geared towards protecting the environment and securing a sustainable future, a commitment geared towards preserving our planet.

“We have a responsibility to equip ourselves with requisite knowledge and tools necessary to combat this global crisis,” she said.

Okocha said that through the Initiative, knowledge and inspiration would be delivered to a million young minds, and instill an understanding of climate change from an early stage.

She said that the seed of responsibility, empathy and action would also be planted.

According to her, the children are not just the beneficiaries of this knowledge, they are partners in this fight, their creativity and passion are invaluable assets safeguarding their planet.

Similarly, the Press Secretary, Indian High Commission, Mr Primod Kurmar-Agrawal, said inculcating the attitude of tree planting into the children would secure a healthier planet for the future generations.

Kurmar-Agrawal said that planting of trees was essential to protect and preserve the environment, and involving the children would make them aware of issues relating to climate change.

“And as the children are the future, to protect and preserve the environment is most important in their lives,” she said.

Kurmar-Agrawal further urged the organisers of the initiative to do more of such a project, while pledging the commission’s support towards such a goal.

In his remarks, Alhaji Tijani Ahmed, the Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internationally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), said the country would be a very green nation in the next three years if everyone would be committed to planting a tree every year.

Represented by Mr Mohammed Albashir, his Special Assistant, Ahmed said it would go a long way in protecting the environment if everyone could commit to planting a tree.

He highlighted the importance of planting trees, saying that it would be impactful in the community and the society at large.

“We all know how impacting our environment is to all persons, our homes, schools and markets among others,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.com.ng)