A non-governmental organisation, Centre for Water and Environmental Development on Tuesday mobilised fresh students of Geography Department of the Kaduna State University to plant 150 economic trees to combat desertification.

The tree planting exercise was in commemoration of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought.

The theme for this year’s celebration is ‘United for Land our Legacy.’

Speaking to journalists on the sideline of the exercise, CWED’s Programme Officer, Lydia Saleh, said the NGO would leverage the students of KASU to ensure sustainability of the trees.

She added that nurturing the trees by the students would not only guarantee the survival of the trees but also provide a unique opportunity for them to apply their theoretical knowledge in a practical way.

By engaging the students, Lydia said CWED aims to instil a sense of ownership and responsibility in them, by ensuring that they take care of the trees and monitor their growth.

Ms Saleh said, “This approach will also help to build a community of young environmental stewards who will continue to promote sustainability and environmental conservation in the future. The trees, which are also economic ones, will provide a source of fruits and income to the students.”

She expressed optimism that the exercise would yield positive results and contribute significantly to the fight against climate change and environmental degradation.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of KASU, Prof. Abdullahi Musa, stressed the importance of sustainability in the tree planting exercise.

Mr Musa, represented by Dr Aliyu Ja’afar, the Chairman of Green KASU, said that the university was committed to promoting environmental conservation and sustainability, where the tree planting exercise was a testament to the institution’s commitment.

The vice chancellor emphasised that the trees would provide shade, improve air quality, and serve as a carbon sink, ultimately contributing to a healthier environment.

He commended CWED for its partnership and support in promoting sustainability and environmental conservation.

Mr Musa urged the students to take ownership of the project and ensure the trees’ survival.

Also, the Head of Department, Geography Department, KASU, Dr B.R Atiyong, said tree planting was an important aspect of geography.

According to him, the environment encompasses all the aspects that sustain human survival which includes the water we drink, air we breathe and the land we cultivate.

He thanked CWED for the initiative, pledging to ensure that the students nurtured the trees to grow before they graduated.

During his presentation, the resource person, Dr Joseph Ariko, said that as the world grappled with the challenges of climate change, it was imperative that people came together to protect the land and ensure a sustainable future.

The title of his presentation was “United land for our legacy in the face of climate change.”

Mr Ariko, represented by Abu-Hanifa Babaji, said the issue of land degradation was of global concern, adding that government agencies in Nigeria saddled with such tasks were doing their best.

He called for continuous sensitisation on the effects and need for actions that would stem environmental degradation and climate change.

The students thanked CWED and their university for providing them with the opportunity to begin applying their theoretical knowledge in a practical way.

One of them, Gimba Joel, said through the exercise, he had learnt the importance of teamwork, environmental stewardship, and community engagement.

Joel said he would nurture the tree he planted and monitor its growth to ensure it became a symbol of his dedication to environmental conservation.

The trees planted included mahogany, sour soup, mango, orange, pawpaw and dates, among others.

 (NAN)