With the support of UNICEF, the Katsina government has mobilised youth groups to plant 100,000 trees to combat climate change in the state through the Green Rising Nigeria Movement project.

The project aims to create Nigeria Green champions of change initiative, tagged, ‘One Movement, 100,000 Journeys’.

Stella Okafor-Terver, UNICEF WASH programme officer, Kano Field Office, said this while addressing participants at a one-day sensitisation workshop in Katsina on Tuesday.

The workshop was organised through youths, sports development, and the environment to sensitise participants to the Green Rising Nigeria movement.

According to her, UNICEF initiated a movement for 100,000 tree planting, turning plastic waste into wealth, and mobilising youths for climate change actions.

Okafor-Terver said, “The workshop was a follow-up to the youth group identification meeting held in August. The workshop attracted about 30 different youth groups with about 100 youths in attendance, focusing on the fight against climate change’s impact on children and open defecation.

“The Green Rising 9ja movement is a UNICEF initiative through Generation Unlimited (GenU) aimed at raising awareness on climate change impacts among youth, public sectors and private sector partners.

“The movement aspires to mobilise and support 10 million children and young people in developing countries to take grassroots action to protect and adapt to the impact of climate change by 2025.”

She added that the movement involves tree planting, youth mobilisation, plastic waste recycling, and creating a voluntary army to support efforts to address climate change in schools, communities, and healthcare centres.

The WASH programme officer revealed that the workshop aimed to open the minds of the youth and young people to develop green skills via formal or informal training.

“The movement also plans to support about 10 million young people in developing countries to take grassroots actions on climate change to ensure a conducive environment. The Green Rising 9ja movement is already making strides in this regard,” Okafor-Terver said.

Earlier, the permanent secretary of the ministry of environment, Muntari-Kado, described the UNICEF movement as timely.

He noted that the state government is committed to combating climate change and plans to plant one million trees in the coming year.

According to him, the state government also plans to demolish all structures in dam areas and along other waterways to ensure a conducive environment and prevent flooding.

He pointed out that the decision clearly indicated the state government’s support for UNICEF.

The permanent secretary said that the Green Rising Nigeria movement would yield positive results by encouraging youth involvement in the fight against climate change in the state.

(NAN)