The Climate Change Mitigation Ambassadors In Nigeria (CCMAIN) on Tuesday planted 90 trees at Isioma Onyeobi College, Asaba, to commemorate the 90th birthday of the Iyase of Asaba and former Secretary to the Government of the defunct Bendel State (SSG) and Head of Service, Chief P. I. G Onyeobi.
The exercise was a follow up to the 70 trees planted at St. Patrick’s College, Asaba, a fortnight ago to commemorate the 70th birth anniversary of the President of the CCMAIN Foundation and Osowa Owelle of Asaba, Chief (Engr) C. C. Chukwurah.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief (Engr) C.C.Chukwurah said the programme was also in furtherance of the Foundation’s determination to democratize tree planting and going green, which he noted had become imperative due to the drastic global climate changes, gross depletion of the forest and its consequences on human life.
The Osowa Owelle of Asaba said naturally the population of trees should be several times more than human population in the society, but regretted that the reverse was now the case as a result of climate change and deforestation, a narrative he said CCMAIN was out to change in order to add more Oxygen to the air and reduce Carbon dioxide.
He said the Foundation, whose target was to plant 1,500 trees annually, also intended to encourage the younger generation to pick interest in tree planting as a way of going green, promoting human life and ensuring a wholesome environment.
Chief (Engr) C. C Chukwurah, a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE) among other professional bodies, revealed that Green Ambassadors Club would soon be launched in schools to nurture the trees and maintain a green environment, pointing out that the team would be visiting at intervals to monitor the growth of the trees, replace withered ones and uphold the newly planted.
CCMAIN President commended Desert Warrior, Dr Newton Jibunor, for his affirmative commitment to the campaign against desert encroachment and thanked him for supporting the programme with 30 trees.
He also thanked others who had donated up to ten trees in support of CCMAIN, which qualified them to be Climate Change Ambassadors, and the school authority for their cooperation.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Desert Warrior, Dr Newton Jibunoh, of the Fight Against Desert Encroachment (FADE) fame, who is also the Patron of CCMAIN, commended the Foundation for joining in the campaign to make the face of the earth better to live in.
Dr Jibunoh said the environment was key to human existence, as air water and food were all environmentally controlled and must not be subjected to pollution or degradation, which could lead to collosal loss of lives.
The traditional ruler of Asaba, HRM Asagba Prof Chike Edozien, represented by the Ubilikankwu of Asaba, Prof Leroy Edozien; the celebrant and Iyase of Asaba, Obi Chief P. I. G Onyeobi, represented by Comrade Nnamdi Odiwe; Obi Ajufo Onyeamanaogami, Alibo Ahaba, Chief Paul Oliko; the President of Ahaba ’88 Club, Prof Emmanuel Onwuka; and the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Environment, Dr Minmi Oseji, while taking turns to plant trees, commended CCMAIN for the environmental friendly initiative and called on Deltans to key into it.
Others who planted trees were a retired Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Information and one time Acting General of DBS Asaba, Sir Austin Mowah; retired PS, Post Primary Education Board, Mrs Martina Osaji; Mr Francis Nnachi of Solid Chemical Recycling Company, Asaba, and the Principal of the school, represented by the Vice Principal (Admin) Mrs Grace Osharive.
The event featured a talk on Redressing Plastic Waste Menace by Mr Francis Nnachi.
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