A non governmental organisation known as Babura Youth Development Initiative (BYDI) in Jigawa state has launched a tree-planting campaign with a target of planting over 500 seedlings in 2025.
The tree planting campaign was lunched on Sunday September 7th, 2024. in Babura town of Babura local government area, a border community between Nigeria and Nigeria Republic.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony, the Executive Director of the organization, Mustapha Umar Babura, stated that the campaign is part of their effort to raise public awareness about the significance of tree planting in tackling environmental degradation.
He noted that Babura Local Government, being a border community between Nigeria and the Niger Republic, is highly prone to desertification. In view of this, his organization chose the tree-planting campaign as one of its key annual projects.
Malam Mustapha explained that the organization mobilized 500 seedlings, 300 of which are economic trees. These were distributed free to residents for planting, while the remaining 200 were planted along the roadside in the Kofar Yamma area of Babura 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 Governor Malam Umar Namadi’s administration in tackling desertification, global warming, and other forms of environmental degradation.
Speaking at the weekend event, the Chairman of Babura Local Government Council, represented by the councilor for Babura Ward, Hon Lawan Abdullahi, commended the organization’s effort.
He revealed that the local government is also undertaking a tree-planting program and has deployed guards to protect the seedlings from destruction to ensure they grow to maturity.
The campaign also featured a lecture from Imam Hassan Musa on the significance of tree planting from an Islamic perspective, while Dr. Sani Isyaku of the Federal University Dutse spoke on the importance of trees to human life and ecosystem.
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.
By: Muhammad Zangina Kura
At’tajdid News
