Gov. Soludo donates over 100,000 economic trees to Ojukwu Varsity
By Deboy Oti, Awka
Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, has donated over one hundred thousand (100,000) economic trees to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) Igbariam, aimed at enhancing a greener, cleaner, and healthier environment in the school environment.
The Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kate Azuka Omenugha disclosed this to newsmen during a press conference held at the Varsity’s auditorium on Tuesday ahead of the forthcoming Climate Change Summit and Tree Planting Awareness Campaign organised by the Institution slated to hold on July 17, 2024
She said “The tree planting will be officially unveiled by Cardinal Francis Arinze on Thursday at the Administrative block of the University.
“The gesture happened to be the first of it kind since the inception of the University was part of the governor’s vision of making Anambra a clean, green, livable and prosperous state in Nigeria.
According to the VC, the COOU under her administrative agenda of Value, Viability and Visibility is committed to create sustainable, responsible, and actionable steps towards a green, healthier, and eco-friendly environment in Igbariam and Uli campuses respectively.
“Our beloved COOU is taking a bold step towards a sustainable future with an insightful Climate Change Summit and exciting tree planting exercise planned for this month of July, 2024.
The Policy Analysis and Research Congress invites you to listen to our specially crafted jingle celebrating this vital sustainability milestone through a Climate Action Activity and role of trees in our ecosystem.
This will be takeoff with a Climate Action Summit for impactful presentations and discussions on the environment as well as the launch of the COOU 5-Year Strategic Roadmap for Tree Planting and Climate Action 2024-2029 and will be closely followed by the commencement of the ambitious tree planting exercise to plant 1 million trees in COOU in the next 5 years.
“Let us plant today, for a greener world tomorrow, thereby making COOU, Anambra, Nigeria and our planet greener, healthier, and more beautiful.
“Every tree planted is a step towards a brighter future. Let us unite in this noble cause and spread the word – one tree at a time!
“Soludo has donated over 100,000 trees to the university, aimed to enhance a greener, cleaner, and healthier environment in the school environment.
“The initiative to plant trees is a new endeavor to the University. The institution is fully prepared to partner with Nigerian Meteorolocal Agency (NiMet) and several other stakeholders in both private and government establishments in ensuring that there is an apparent increase in school tree planting with the intent of sequestering carbon and reversing climate change.
The Acting VC encouraged the university community to align with the initiative, stressing that urban forest is a long-term endeavour that requires sustained commitment and support by the community..
She noted that the exercise will provide “one tree, one staff, one tree, one student”. And that a total of one million trees has been mapped out for the project.
She also announced that the University is partnering with NiMet and other environmental stakeholders to achieved the set goal.
The tree-planting project will nurture a healthy living environments for staff, students and the entire University community in general.
