The eHealth Africa (eHA), a Non-Profit Organisation, says it is planting 500 trees in Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Kano State in commemoration of the Global Earth Day celebration.
Juliet Odogwu, the Executive Director of the organisation disclosed this during a tree planting campaign on Friday in Abuja.
Odogwu said that the campaign involves the planting of 200 trees in FCT and 300 in Kano State respectively.
Odogwu also said that the tree planting exercise would help to mitigate the effects of climate challenges in the nation’s capital.
According to her, it is important to create public awareness about rising temperatures, global warming, and climate change.
“eHealth Africa is committed to ensuring that it put measures in place to enhance environmental sustainability by reducing carbon footprint.
“Today, we are here because today is World Earth Day. We are here to do our little bit and contribute to the theme, which is; “Investing Our Planet”. So, we are here for tree planting exercise.
“Today, we would be planting 200 trees in Abuja and 300 trees in Kano State as part of eHealth Africa’s contribution to investing in our planet, ” she explained.
Odogwu said the importance of the tree planting exercise cannot be overemphasized as it was one of the cheapest and most effective ways to achieve a cleaner planet, removing carbon dioxide from the environment, as well as beautifying the planet.
She said, “Today is not just about tree planting exercise but also a public campaign to raise awareness about the fact that we have to be good stewards of our environment. We are put on this planet to take care of the environment.
Also Speaking, Mr Okpe Charles, Deputy Director Parks and Recreation FCT, commended the management of the eHA for the gesture to beautifying the FCT and saving the environment from effects of global warming.
“The environment is very important, we live in an environment and it is our responsibility to make sure that we sustain it to ensure its safety.
“We know the importance of trees to humanity. So, that is what we are doing and it is very gratifying that eHealth members are participating in this year World Earth Day.
“And at the same time commemorating it with planting of trees, knowing fully well the importance of trees to humanity, ” Charles said.
Charles used the occasion to appeal to the residents of Abuja to replace any tree uprooted for any reason, so as to keep the environment safe for all.
Nevertheless, the director cautioned that uprooting plant without replacement was a way of creating ways for erosion, or anything that could work against the environment and its safety for humanity.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the eHealth Africa is based in Kano State. It builds stronger health systems in Africa through the design and implementation of data-driven solutions and responds to local needs among other responsibilities.
NAN also reports that April 22 in every year is set aside to mark World Earth Day, also known as the International Mother Earth Day, to create more awareness about the dire need to protect the environment.
The day focuses on global climate crisis that is worsening with each passing day.
