Abuja: The Director-General of the Nigeria Conservative Foundation (NCF), Mr. Joseph Onoja, has urged Nigerians to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries by organizing tree planting events rather than hosting extravagant parties. Onoja made this appeal during the inaugural Abuja Garden Festival, held against the backdrop of a severe heatwave affecting the country.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Onoja emphasized that prioritizing tree planting could significantly mitigate the impacts of climate change within the nation. He stated, "Rather than throwing parties during your anniversaries and birthdays, organize tree planting events. This is so that we will have trees around us that will be able to play the role we are supposed to play to create more resilience, especially, in the face of climate change." He highlighted the issues of erosion in coastal areas and desertification in the northern regions, underscoring the need for increased tree coverage to combat these environmental challenges.
Senator Ede Dafinone, delivering a keynote address, noted the Federal Capital Territory's efforts to rejuvenate green spaces in Abuja. He advocated for the protection of existing trees and the promotion of tree planting initiatives in schools. "The green areas must remain green areas. Resident associations, schools, faith-based organizations should be encouraged regarding tree planting. Everyone deserves access to clean green space in the FCT. Planting a tree is a bold step to protect our future and Abuja should lead by example," he remarked.
Facilitators of the event, Mrs. Eyamba Nzekwu and Mrs. Nana Gbolahan, explained their environmental concerns as the motivation behind organizing the festival. Nzekwu pointed out that ongoing construction in the developing city of Abuja often leads to the removal of trees without adequate replacement. "The onus is on us as residents to improve our well-being by contributing to our environment to start planting trees," she stated, highlighting the protective and medicinal benefits of trees.
Gbolahan warned of the consequences of deforestation, including erosion, desertification, excessive heat, and the potential extinction of certain plant species. She emphasized the importance of trees in providing a protective shield against harsh weather conditions, noting that "Abuja has been very hot and then, you also have an extreme heat that is affecting our plants in the environment." Gbolahan revealed that their initiative aims to involve more people, starting with schools in the FCT, to plant more trees and support governmental efforts.
The News Agency of Nigeria further reports that the event attracted garden owners, vendors of natural flowers, and purveyors of natural foods. Attendees received seedlings to plant and were encouraged to report their progress at the next festival.