By Prosper Okoye
Junior Chamber International (JCI) has trained students of Government Science Secondary School on “GO GREEN,” a move it says will sustain the struggle to achieve a global eco-friendly environment.
According to Blessing Jegede, President of the Abuja Unity Chapter, the exercise was inspired by the alarming rate at which trees are disappearing. “We are running out of trees. People are cutting down trees for construction and other purposes, and this is detrimental to our survival and to animals,” she explains.
The “GO GREEN” project is aimed at tree planting and replenishing vegetation. “Green Life, Sustainable Living,” Jegede says, is its theme for this year.
She argued that involving youths within the secondary school age was both an effective present and future strategy. “Adults alone cannot do it. We catch them young because we know they can influence the opinions of their parents and others around them. We taught them how to plant trees by planting trees, so when they go home, they will encourage their parents and others to plant trees and avoid cutting them down indiscriminately.
Jegede called for collective action to protect the environment. “If we stop cutting trees, we are saving ourselves. We no longer have trees that shield us from sunburn and provide better oxygen. I remember when I first came for NYSC, there used to be a fruit called the umbrella fruit, but today we can’t find it any longer in Abuja.”
Also speaking, JCI Sen. Yusuf Jimoh added that going green goes beyond planting trees. “It has to do with keeping the environment clean, being conscious of what you consume, and even the mode of transportation. We encourage people to go biking, to trek. At the end of the day, we become healthier and reduce the emission of carbon into the atmosphere.”
He urged that environmental issues should be made a national priority, despite the country’s other challenges. “In truth, we are going through economic hardship, and the cost of living is becoming difficult, but that is not an excuse for us not to go green. We can adopt green practices to help solve our economic problems.
“I tell people, when you are planting trees, do not just plant any tree, plant an economic tree. When you plant an economic tree, like fruit trees, you can make money from it, solve hunger problems, and address environmental issues.
“Plant trees within the confines of your compound. We all have small spaces within our compounds where we can plant trees. Urban agriculture should be promoted,” Jimoh advised.
Furthermore, Jimoh dismissed the skepticism surrounding climate change. “We are all facing the consequences. We have issues with drought, and farmers are afraid to plant because of the uncertainty of rainfall. We also have recurring flooding in Niger State, Kwara State, and most riverine communities in the Niger Delta. We must face it and adapt to it rather than be skeptical about it.”
He said human-induced climate change is even more worrisome. “We are injecting carbon into the atmosphere through our technological activities and lifestyle. We don’t manage our waste properly. We leave our drainage systems blocked and our environment dirty. All these are realities of climate change.”
Jimoh, who gave the keynote address at the event, lauded the federal government’s efforts in combating climate change. “The government is doing its part by setting up ministries and agencies to address environmental issues. It is also collaborating with the global community to dovetail efforts and strategies for a more sustainable future.”
The student members of the Young Farmers and Foresters Club made musical and spoken word presentations on the need to save the environment during the event.
Idris Halima, one of the student participants, said the event helped to reinforce their knowledge on the theme, as they had engaged in other environmental projects.
“I have learned a lot. If we are able to invest more in this project, we can reduce the effects of our environmental problems caused by waste and cutting down trees. Charcoal is made by cutting down trees, but if we can replace this local method with rice husks, it will make a significant impact,” she added.
