From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse
The Jigawa State Environmental Protection Agency (JISEPA) with support from United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) organised a tree planting Campaign to celebrated the 2024 International Youth Day.
Speaking during the flagg-off of the campaign held in Sule-tankarkar local government, the managing director Jigawa State Environmental Protection Agency JISEPA Alhaji Adamu Sabo said, about 100 groups of Youth were engaged in the campaign.
He explained that, three frontline local government areas of deforestation and desertification including Sule-tankarkar, Babura and Maigatari were selected to engage Youths on planting of 500 trees each local government.
According to him, the idea of engaging Youths on tree planting Campaign is part of present administration’s agenda in the state to mitigate climate change, protection of erosion and increase survival rate of trees for fresh oxygen.
The managing director then, commended UNICEF for the support and urged Youths to embrace tree planting habit by at least planting one tree in their life.
In his remarks, the Programme Specialist, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), UNICEF Field Office Kano. Dr. Uba Lawal said, the tree planting campaign is a key approach to mitigating the effects of Climate Change, especially in the semi-arid areas of northern Jigawa where deforestation has severely affected the region.
“The campaign targets to plant 1,500 trees. Five hundred (500) trees have already been planted in Babura, and another 500 trees each will be planted in Maigatari and Sule Tankarkar.
“UNICEF is supporting Jigawa State Government by providing resources to mobilize and educate the people of Jigawa on the importance of tree planting and the role that youth will play, being the leaders of tomorrow” he said.
The programme specialist, urged Youths to lead in sustaining and nurturing the trees being planted as they are the foremost beneficiaries of a greener future.
“In apparent recognition of the importance of the tree planting campaign in mitigating the effects of Climate Change, the youth of Jigawa have decided to focus on tree planting to celebrate the International Youth Day” , he said.