From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
The Rotary Club of Bompai, in partnership with Panacea Foundation, on Wednesday, flagged-off 10, 000 tree planting project at Nassararwa Children’s Home, Hospital Road, Nassararwa GRA, Kano.
The event under the chairmanship of the District Governor, Rotary Club District 9125 (2022/2023), Dr. Goddy Nnadi who was on his official visit to Rotary Clubs in Kano State, was designed to fulfil the Club’s seventh area of focus—-environmental protection.
Dr. Nnadi, in his address, emphasized on the need to protect the environment from the hazards of climate change through tree planting.
He noted that environmental protection should be everybody’s business as government can not do it alone, pointing out that, “Nigeria is our country. We should do everything possible to make it inhabitable. We should make sure that we keep maintaining the trees and ensure that they grow well.”
The District Governor who is in company of the Governor-elect, Alhaji Sagab Ahmed, and other top members of the Club, commended Rotary Club of Bompai for embarking on such laudable project and assured the leadership of his continuous support.
The President of Rotary Club of Bompai, Lady Miriam Obi, expressed concern over the dangers of climate change on the society, promising that her Club will continue to champion the campaign of tree planting and maintenance in order to save lives and make the environment conducive and habitable for people.
According to her, “climate change is impacting human lives and health in a variety of ways. It threatens the essential ingredients of good health – clean air, safe drinking water, nutritious food supply and safe shelter – and has the potential to undermine decades of progress in global health.”
She further stated that data from the World Health Organization (WHO), indicated that between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250, 000 additional deaths per year from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and heat stress alone.
“Consequently, areas with weak health infrastructure – mostly in developing countries like Nigeria– will be the least able to cope without assistance to prepare and respond,” she added.
The President said, “we believe it is the responsibility of everyone to contribute their quota to addressing the issues of climate change. Rotary Club of Bompai is collaboration with PANACEA Foundation to Plant Trees as a nature-based solution to climate change issues.”
The Rotary Club of Bompai Projects Service Director, Rotn. Bala Baliqis, hinted that the Club is targeting to plant 10,000 trees in selected locations across the state in this rainy season.
She said the Club is targeting schools, hospitals, remand homes, drug rehabilitation centers and remote communities where trees are needed to add value to live and nature, adding that several species of trees were selected, “for beautification and some edible species like moringa were planted to flag off the project.”
The Founder and Pioneer chairman of Panacea Foundation, Dr. Dahiru Muhammad Hashim said the Foundation planned to plant 100, 000 trees across the 44 Local Government Areas of Kano state in 2022.
He said Panacea Foundation found it worthy to partner with the Rotary Club of Bompai in planting 10, 000 trees as part of its contribution of giving back to the society through environmental protection.
According to him, the Foundation is also in partnership with Kano state Ministry of Environment and the Federal Ministry of Environment, in its bid to fighting the menace of climate change and other dangers posed by environmental degradation.
“We don’t just plant trees, we also monitor, nurture and maintain them as they grow. We have volunteers across the 44 Local Government Areas of Kano state who go round taking care of our trees. We have the pre-planting, planting and post-planting maintenance techniques.
“It is a good thing to partner with the Rotary Club of Bompai to make this project a reality. We appreciate the zeal and enthusiasm shown by the leadership and members of the Club, and we look forward to partnering with them for more humanitarian and nature-based projects,” Dr. Dahiru Muhammad stated.
