A Non governmental Organization, mercy corps Nigeria under its Community initiative to promote peace, CIPP has embarked on a tree-planting exercise in Ungwar Rimi Kaduna with a view to fostering peaceful environment for all in the state.
Speaking during the exercise, Senior Programme Officer of the Organization Mr. Emmanuel Shall said the event in collaboration with Generations for Peace and other relevant stakeholders in the state was part of effort to mark the International Youths day, 2022 which is with the theme “bridging the generational gap, a world for everyone”.
According to Mr. Emmanuel Shall, the initiative which is a five-year project under the sponsorship of the United States Agency for International Development, USAID symbolises safe spaces and unity for the different ethnic and religious groups domicile in the area.
He explained that, the tree planting initiative would also provide a platform for them to always come together and engage in a fruitful interactions that would improve peaceful coexistence and ensure safety of residents in the area and Kaduna State at large.
“This idea of planting trees actually came from the community youths themselves, we ask them what they wanted to do to mark this initiative today and they agree that the best thing they will do is to plant trees, reason being that these trees would become a safe space for them in the location where they are planted,
“That they would sit around it, discuss issues around peace and progress of their community and nurture these trees, then tell the stories from generation to generation,
“In line with the theme of this year’s International youth’s day, we are hopeful that the initiative will continue, and this would be an inspiration for them to keep up with the good work”, he explained.
The Country Manager, Generations for Peace Nigeria Mrs. Jelilat Abidoye said youths are the backbone of every civilization, and that, its success lies on their shoulder, hence the need for them to be front runners in addressing conflict issues head on, rather than being participants in it.
“Rather than being participants in the conflict, we need to be participants in addressing this conflict issues,
“For me, I’m really proud of the youths we’ve been working with in Ungwar Rimi, and the work they’ve been doing and the continues efforts to see that they transformed Ungwar Rimi into one of the most peaceful multi ethnic and multi religious communities in Kaduna State,
“In line with this year’s theme that calls for inter generational solidarity, I hope that they are able to work with adult people in the community as stakeholders to learn from their own experiences and knowledge, then use these things with what they know with their youthful spirit to continue to contribute to peace”, said Jaleelat.
On his part, the District Head of Gabasawa Alh. Shitu Ibrahim Dikko said the importance of tree- planting in the Nigerian communities cannot be over emphasized especially at this critical period of emerging global environmental challenges, and
Called on Government to intensify effort by ensuring that the initiative top its agenda toward protecting the environment from the effect of global warming which he noted was the resultant effect of climate change.
Represented by the Village Head of Ungwar Kudu, Alh. Abdulahi Y. The district Head urged youths whom he described as the vanguard of change to be law abiding, as Governmen is determined to providing them with a conducive environment for them to excel in their chosen field of endeavors, majorly academics and vocational training.
The Chairman of Kaduna South Local Government Council Mr. Muktar Baloni Pointed to the fact that Governmen was aware of the prevalence of drugs and alcohol use, as well as abused that have constituted serious threat to growth and development and expressed government’s commitment to ensure rehabilitation of those affected with the negative effect of drugs to reduce its effect.
He charged them to desist from being used as easy tools to disrupt the polity, adding that plans are ongoing to bring the youths together to ensure they are enlighten via various programs for them to be useful citizens of the country, especially as the general elections draws nearer.
The event had participants from the ministry of environment, peace commission in kaduna state as well as traditional and religious leaders including youths of Ungwar Rimi and environs.
Trees were planted at the Primary Health care center, Primary School and Governmen Secondary School all at Ungwar Rimi in Kaduna State.
Daniel Karlmax.
