A tertiary institution in South-East Nigeria, the Ebonyi State University (EBSU), has embarked on tree planting to ensure that the ecosystem is not depleted.
The project was undertaken by the University’s Faculty of Management Sciences through EBSU Eco-friendly Initiative in conjunction with Ike-Elechi Ogba Foundation (IEOF).
This initiative came as a result of the global warming due to ozone layer depletion.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Chigozie Ogbu, who was represented by Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Professor Eugene Nweke, said the tree planting is not for beautification of the environment only, but to enhance and to add health value to humanity.
“The school has so far planted over 200,000 trees. The trees will not only safeguard our health system but will in all increase the economic wellbeing of the University staff and students, as majority of the trees are cash crops.
“It is one person, one tree revolution,” Nweke added as he called on everyone to support tree planting.
The Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Professor Ike-Elechi Ogba, who is the Founder of IEOF that initiated the tree
planting, said that the tree planting will help to provide clean and fresh air for humanity.
“It will also naturally help to address the problem of global warming,”he noted.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Administration, Prof. Mrs Happiness Oselebe, said the school will soon commence the growing of 1,000 Cocoa plants in the University.
“This will give a boom to the economy of the School,” Oselebe said as she thanked the Dean, Faculty of the Management Sciences, for the initiative.
She also thanked the Vice Chancellor for supporting the initiative of Professor Ike-Elechi Ogba.
The former Bursar of the University, Dr. Leonard Uguru, said the 1,000 Cocoa plants will give the university enough Internally Generated Revenue in the nearest future, if it is properly managed.
Meanwhile, in another development, the Vice Chancellor also commissioned the world standard Toilet facilities built by Tertiary Education Trust Fund.
The Chairman, Technical Committee on EBSU Eco-friendly Initiative, Comrade Kelechi Nwancho, encouraged everyone to be environmental-friendly.
The highlight of the occasion was the award given by the Faculty’s President, Mr Chidera Igwe, to the Vice Chancellor and Dean, Faculty of Management Sciences for the innumerable support given to the Faculty so far.
