By Mohammed Abubakar Dutse
As part of its contribution towards combatting desertification and restore to the ecosystem, a youth group in Babura, a border community in Jigawa state has launched its yearly tree-planting campaign.
Under the aegis of Babura Youth Development Initiative (BYDI), the group said the gesture was not only aimed at combat in desertification, but also to help in controlling global warming and other forms of environmental degradation.
The exercise was launched on Sunday September 7th, 2024 in Babura town of Babura local government area, a border community between Nigeria and Niger Republic.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony, the Executive Director of the organization, Mustapha Umar Babura, said the campaign was part of their effort to raise public awareness about the significance of tree planting in tackling environmental degradation.
He noted that the local government, being a border community between Nigeria and Niger Republic, was highly prone to desertification. In view of this, his organization chose the tree-planting campaign as one of its key annual projects.
Babura explained that the organization mobilized 500 seedlings, 300 of which are economic trees, which were distributed free of charge to residents for planting, while the remaining 200 were planted along the roadside in the Kofar Yamma area of the town.
According to him, the emphasis on economic trees offers multiple advantages, including ecological preservation, food security, and achieving a sustainable, resilient environment.
He added that the association’s campaign aims to complement the efforts of the state government in tackling desertification, global warming, and other forms of environmental degradation
Mustapha Umar also called on all community members to join hands not only in planting but also in nurturing the seedlings to ensure the project’s long-term success.
Chairman of the council, who was represented by the Councilor representing Babura ward, Lawan Abdullahi commended the youth group’s efforts which aligned with local government and state government policies in mobilising general public for environmental protection.
He revealed that the local government is also running a parallel tree-planting program and has deployed guards to protect the young trees from destruction to ensure they grow to maturity.
The event also featured lectures delivered by Imam Hassan Musa on the significance of tree planting from an Islamic perspective, while Dr. Sani Isyaku of the Federal University Dutse elaborated on the importance of trees to human life and environmental health.
Other dignitaries at the occasion includes the District Head of Babura, Alhaji Abdulwasi’u Sa’idu; Malam Aminu Musa Muhammad; and the Chairman of the Babura Unity and Development Forum, Shu’aibu Alhassan; Comrade Tasiu Abubakar, Director of Empowerment from the Village Community Development Initiative (VILDEV) among others.
