The Nigerian Defence Academy has begun planting one million tree seedlings as part of efforts to control desert encroachment.

The Commandant, Maj.-Gen. John Ochai, said this during the inauguration of a tree planting campaign on Wednesday in Kaduna.

The event is part of activities to mark its 61st anniversary.

Mr Ochai described desert encroachment as a reality, emphasising that the academy was leading the charge to combat desert encroachment.

He said the tree planting campaign was significant towards ensuring environmental sustainability, which translated to giving back to the earth what we took from it due to human development.

The commandant said the academy had lived up to the expectations of Nigerians and trained leaders of the armed forces in the country.

“We have products of this institution as leaders in all spheres of human endeavour, from royal fathers to captains of industries and chief executives of organisations both private and public,” he said.

The commandant said the institute would continue to train military cadets as it was playing a significant role in the development of the country.

According to Mr Ochai, the academy is teaching the cadets to be mindful of the environment to ensure the survival of tree species in the country.

He noted, “Thankfully, the Kaduna State government also has a tree planting campaign. Their plan is to plant 10 million trees within four years. Ours is one million trees, and you can see that these two visions align. Once a future generation of leaders come here and they see the trees we are planting today, it will mark part of our history, and that 61 years of existence will not be forgotten.”

Mr Ochai said the academy had established a biodiversity and conservation centre in 2024, aimed at enhancing research, knowledge, and education.

He said the centre was building capacity for environmental sustainability in line with global practices.

The commandant charged the cadets to embrace tree planting to provide shelter, promote environmental beautification, and control desert encroachment.

He also urged organisations to emulate the gesture and plant trees to protect the environment.

The Director of the centre, Bryian Onwumere, lauded the initiative, stressing that the military had imbibed the concept of environmental protection.

He said that military personnel conducted their training in the bush, during which they didn’t have regard for any other thing.

He added, “Today, they have now seen that the bush is a very vital place to protect, even in the course of training. So, we are happy the military has imbibed the culture. It is not just about planting the trees; it is also about making sure that adequate protection and conservation is given to the trees.’’

He stated the trees planted included varieties of indigenous species to ensure sustainability. 

(NAN)