The Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, in collaboration with UNICEF, would plant 2,080 trees in three months to strengthen environmental sustainability and mitigate the negative impact of climate change.

Kabiru Bala, vice-chancellor of ABU, disclosed this on the sideline of a workshop on Tree Planting, Waste Recycling, and Sustainable Practices for ABU Students at the institution in Zaria.

The workshop was organised by UNICEF in collaboration with ABU in Zaria.

Mr Bala, represented by Sahalu Junaid, said the partnership was hinged on tree planting and sustainable waste management under the Green Rising Initiative of UNICEF.

He noted that ABU had a long tradition of tree planting, and the university had planted over five million trees across its campuses in five years.

“Under the recycling component of the partnership, UNICEF has supported the construction of 12 collection kiosks around the campus, buying waste for recycling purposes.

“UNICEF and ABU want these initiatives to be owned by young people so that they can use it as a means of entrepreneurship,” he said.

The vice-chancellor said the 2,080 trees would be planted on five hectares of land, and UNICEF provided much support for the volunteers.

“Each volunteer will receive N2,000 for transportation and N1,500 for refreshment; we are to be going to the field at least three times a week; for each visit, we will require about 100 students,’’ he said.

Theresa Pamma, the water sanitation and hygiene expert at UNICEF, Kaduna Field Office, said the partnership with ABU was strategic.

Ms Pamma said UNICEF’s Green Rising Project was aimed at engaging youth to be active participants in climate change interventions, and “when one is looking at the critical mass of youth, ABU is a strategic partner on this.”

She added that UNICEF was leveraging the youth at ABU who were from different parts of the country to cascade the Green Rising campaign down towards mitigating climate change impacts.

“We also consider the history of ABU, its number of students, and what the institution has been doing regarding climate change (the tree planting initiatives).

“These, among other reasons, informed the decision to choose ABU for this strategic partnership,’’ Ms Pamma said.

She further explained that the initiative aimed to increase awareness of climate issues and make youth active participants in implementing the interventions.

Ms Pamma said the partnership initially targeted 200 students as volunteers, but the turnout was overwhelming; UNICEF would meet with the university towards increasing the number.

(NAN)