{"id":61567,"date":"2025-02-19T15:43:15","date_gmt":"2025-02-19T15:43:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/?p=61567"},"modified":"2025-02-20T12:52:48","modified_gmt":"2025-02-20T12:52:48","slug":"clergy-leads-tree-planting-campaign-to-promote-environmental-sustainability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/2025\/02\/19\/clergy-leads-tree-planting-campaign-to-promote-environmental-sustainability\/","title":{"rendered":"Clergy Leads Tree-Planting Campaign to Promote Environmental Sustainability"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Abah Anthony John<\/strong><\/p>\n

In a concerted effort to advance environmental sustainability and foster peace, Rev. Fr. Vincent Ogunsoro, Dean of Karu Deanery, spearheaded a tree-planting campaign at Junior Secondary School, Nyanya 3, Abuja.<\/p>\n

The initiative, organized by the Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace, sought to educate students on the crucial role of trees in ecological preservation and human well-being.<\/p>\n

“This foundation was established by our Cardinal to enhance both humanity and the environment,” Fr. Ogunsoro stated, adding that “A healthy environment ensures the well-being of all, enabling us to thrive.”<\/p>\n

Emphasizing the responsibility of students in nurturing the newly planted trees, he urged them to take ownership of their care.<\/p>\n

“These trees are now your responsibility. They absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, ensuring cleaner air.<\/p>\n

“Without fresh air, our health deteriorates. Many illnesses today stem from environmental degradation, including polluted air and contaminated water,” he explained.<\/p>\n

Beyond environmental benefits, Fr. Ogunsoro highlighted the economic value of the planted trees, which included mango, orange, almond, and cherry species.<\/p>\n

“These trees will not only provide nourishment but also contribute to your overall well-being. Will you take care of them?” he asked, prompting a resounding affirmation from the students.<\/p>\n

Rev. Fr. Boniface Neibo, Deputy Executive Director of the Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace, underscored the far-reaching consequences of deforestation.<\/p>\n

“Flooding and disasters in regions like Borno and Adamawa have been exacerbated by rampant deforestation.<\/p>\n

“The indiscriminate felling of trees for firewood depletes our environment, and this cycle must be reversed,” he warned.<\/p>\n

He encouraged students to extend the tree-planting initiative to their homes and communities.<\/p>\n

“Talk to your parents about this effort. A tree you plant and nurture today will grow alongside you, offering shade, fruit, and even medicinal benefits for future generations,” he advised.<\/p>\n

Recognizing academic excellence, Fr. Neibo announced a personal scholarship for two students\u2014Zainab Abdulrasheed and Daniel Praise\u2014for their outstanding performance in mathematics.<\/p>\n

“As a way of encouraging diligence, I will cover your school fees for the next term,” he declared, drawing applause from students and staff.<\/p>\n

Expressing gratitude, the school’s principal, Mr. Isah Gideon, commended the foundation for selecting their institution for the initiative.<\/p>\n

“Trees offer shade, prevent excessive heat, and provide nourishment.<\/p>\n

“Just as humans require care to remain healthy, trees need consistent attention. Regular watering and protection from harm are essential,” he emphasized.<\/p>\n

Also speaking at the event, Imam Yahaya Dauda Abubakar, Senior Master of Administration and a seminar facilitator, highlighted the religious significance of tree planting.<\/p>\n

“The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) instructed every good Muslim to plant at least one tree in their lifetime. Trees protect our homes and provide sustenance, making their preservation a shared responsibility,” he noted.<\/p>\n

He further challenged students to ensure the trees’ survival. “Imagine how disappointing it would be if Fr. Vincent returns in a month and finds some of these trees gone. We must take ownership and safeguard them,” he stressed.<\/p>\n

The campaign concluded with students pledging to nurture the trees, reinforcing their commitment to environmental stewardship.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The Dean of Karu Deanery Rev, Fr, Vincent Ogunsoro (L) with some students and staff of Junior Secondary School Nyanya 3 Abuja<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Through this initiative, the Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace continues to champion environmental awareness, community engagement, and sustainable development.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Abah Anthony John In a concerted effort to advance environmental sustainability and foster peace, Rev. Fr. Vincent Ogunsoro, Dean of Karu Deanery, spearheaded a tree-planting campaign at Junior Secondary School, Nyanya 3, Abuja. The initiative, organized by the Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace, sought to educate students on the crucial role of trees in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":61569,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[177],"tags":[59],"class_list":["post-61567","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-abuja-reports","tag-featured"],"aioseo_notices":[],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61567","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/32"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=61567"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61567\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":61570,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61567\/revisions\/61570"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/61569"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61567"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=61567"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=61567"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}