By Ikenna Nwokedi
Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka on Wednesday, 19th October 2022, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF) on ecosystem conservation and environment protection as it commence the initiative with the planting of 10,000 economic trees.
The symbolic planting exercise which took place at the back of the banking avenue in the institution saw the planting of economic trees such as cashew, african mango, avocado pear, ukwa seedlings (African breadfruit), melon and a range of others.
Performing the act of planting of economic trees, the Director-General of the NCF, Dr. Joseph Onoja stated that the initiative was in a bid to conserve and preserve the ecosystem as well as put to a stop activities that can harm the ecosystem. Dr. Onoja opined that the noble act was part of the brainchild of his foundation geared towards encouraging afforestation and ending cum reducing to the barest activities that encourage deforestation.
The NCF DG eulogized the University Mannagement under the leadership of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Charles Esimone, FAS for keying into the vision of the foundation and assured that the foundation would continue to provide both technical and financial supports to the institution in ensuring the sustainability of the project now and in the future.
Onoja said that his foundation was willing to partner with the State Government through the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Culture, Tourist and Entertainment, as well as Anambra State Erosion, Watershed and Climate Change Agency in tackling ecological issues such as erosion and flooding, he also promised that the initiative will be extended to other geopolitical zones in the country.
In his reaction, UNIZIK Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Charles Esimone, FAS said the institution under his leadership has been championing environmental preservation and conservation as part of his vision for ‘Project 200’. Esimone stated that the the Ivory Tower is tending towards having a forest reserve and through the office of the Special Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor on Land and Natural Resources Management have commenced awareness campaign to stem the tide of environmental degradation occasioned by human activities.
The scholar opined that the University has trained forest guards through the instrumentality of NCF and warned that any person found felling trees in the University without the necessary approval and authorization would be adequately dealt with as a deterrent to others who may be nursing such negative act. Prof. Esimone also disclosed that UNIZIK has secured a N350 million TETFund support to develop her Zoological garden and process leading to establishing one would be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2023.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Engr. Felix Odimegwu, said the planting of 10,000 trees in the institution through it’s partnership with the NCF is apt, Odimegwu disclosed that the exercise was in line with the agenda of the Executive Governor of the State, Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo.
He disclosed that the State Government recently flagged off a project termed ‘One household, two trees’ initiative in a bid to protect and preserve the ecosystem. Odimegwu said that there is need for the noble gesture to be extended to all the states of the federation and if possible a policy framework to support the quest towards protection of our environment.
His colleague from the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Don Onyenji, echoed the same view. Onyenji stated that forest conservation is key in promoting tourism in the state. He said that one of the agenda of his ministry is to ensure that places with ecological challenges are managed and transformed to a tourism site towards generating revenue for the state.
Hon. Onyenji disclosed that there are well over 900 erosion sites in the state and there is need for all stakeholders to tackle ecological challenges in the state.
On his part, the Managing Director, Anambra State Erosion, Watershed and Climate Change Agency (ANSEWCCA), Prof. Phil. Phil-Eze commended the NCF initiative and the partnership with the institution.
He praised UNIZIK Vice-Chancellor for his concern and interest in environmental matters with the vision of having a zoological garden and condoning off some areas in the University as forest reserve. He said his agency is will to strengthen the existing relationship with NCF to access more seedlings that will aid afforestation and ecosystem conservation.
Present at the occasion were Ms Folake Salawu, NCF Green Recovery Nigeria Initiative Leader; Mr. Joshua Dazi, NCF Project Officer; Oladapo Soneye, NCF Communications Manager; Prof. Peter Nnabude, the Special Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor on Land and Natural Resources Management ably represented by Dr. Onunwa Akudo as well as members of the University Management, Council and numerous principal officers in the University.
