FG, Eki Co-Net unveil tree planting to combat climate change

The Federal Government, in collaboration with Eki Co-Net, has launched a tree-planting initiative aimed at alleviating hardships in schools.

The collaboration launched the “Grow Green Tree Planting Exercise” on Tuesday at the University of Abuja, emphasizing the economic benefits of tree planting and its potential to alleviate hardships in schools.

This initiative was introduced by the Minister of State for Environment, Dr Ishaq Salako, at the University of Abuja during an event organized by Eki Co-Net to mark Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day.

“The strength in Africa is nature, and that is why we have always promoted nature-based solutions like tree planting that we’re doing, but we cannot but also utilize technology, capture, carbon capture technology is very critical,” Salako said.

Salako emphasized the need to engage young people in environmental activities and praised Eki Co-Net for creating tools to monitor the health and progress of planted trees. He also recognized the challenges associated with ensuring high survival rates for new saplings.

He added, “In terms of delivering on our agenda, to ensure we deliver on our commitment for net zero by 2060, we’ll continue to reduce our emissions, and then we also continue to increase our capacity to absorb those emissions. We are committed to ensuring that by 2060, Nigeria will become Net Zero.

“Technology is very key. But I always say that our strength in Africa is nature. That is why we have always promoted nature-based solutions like tree planting, which we are doing, you know, but we cannot. However, we also utilize carbon capture technology, which is very critical.

“Eki Co-Net is coming up with something that can help us monitor how trees are thriving. I think that it is very excellent if we can deploy that because we plant a lot of trees, and a lot of times you see that the survival rate of those trees is not enough because we are not able to monitor them effectively,” he added.

The CEO of Eki Co-Net, Godwin Omage, highlighted the broader significance of the tree-planting initiative, noting its potential to inspire environmental responsibility while contributing to economic sustainability.

“Today’s event transcends mere tree planting; it’s an economic revolution. We’re not just planting social trees, but over 1,000 economic trees in the University of Abuja,” Omage remarked.

He added, “That is why you see we are protecting the planet while we are connecting with people. The technology aims to provide solutions and to ensure that the earth is well sustained because if the earth is not sustained just like we have today, there’s no sustainable future.”

The Head of the Department of Estate Management and Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Abuja, Jumoh Muse Yusuf, also expressed support for the initiative, stating that the institution is committed to generating its own revenue while taking proactive steps in environmental stewardship.

“We identify with Eki Co-Net because the University of Abuja is an environmentally friendly university that has been doing everything possible to put the university on the global map. So when we met and we discussed, we said it’s a laudable environmental project because it solves a lot of problems,” he said.

“We have global issues which are at the center of international discussion. It’s going to solve the problem of climate change because it’s going to mitigate carbon emissions. When you plant trees, trees will capture carbon,” Yusuf added.

He further said, “It’s going to solve the problem of hunger because when you plant economic trees in the university, students will have access to food to eat.”