To sustain its ecosystem, the Federal University of Education, Pankshin, Plateau, has launched a tree-planting initiative to plant 300 trees around the school.

Speaking at the launch on Tuesday in Pankshin, Joel Wannang, vice-chancellor of the university, said that tree planting was another way to maintain and sustain the ecosystem.

Mr Wannang said that although the exercise might seem ordinary, it was about planting hope and making the future greener and better.

“In the late 70’s, this university was the envy of many people because of the well-planted and arranged trees. You would mistake the school for a foreign institution,” the VC said.

According to him, trees are natural gifts to man because they beautify the environment, improve air quality, and provide shade and peace.

“Trees are silent guardians of life. Every tree you plant today is a lasting investment in this university. It’s not only about planting the trees, but also about nurturing and sustaining them so they can serve their intended purpose. Plant a tree today, plant life and plant a future,” he stated.

Inuwa Chihir, the director of Physical Planning at the university, who spoke on environmental sustainability, said the trees people were enjoying today were planted and maintained by others.

“If we work and don’t sustain what we plant, there will be danger; we shall not have any story to tell tomorrow,” Mr Chihir said.

He explained that the trees were environmentally friendly, adding that it was everyone’s responsibility to maintain them and keep animals and other pests away so they wouldn’t be destroyed.

Dekom Bako, the chairman of Environmental Sanitation and Beautification, said the institution was not merely planting trees but planting hope, preserving the environment, and investing in the lives of generations unborn.

According to Mr Bako, it is the vision of the school’s management to transform FUEP into a citadel of knowledge by creating a serene, clean, safe, and friendly competitive environment for learning, research and innovations.

(NAN)