In the spirit of the green economy and to further the objective of a viable and prosperous society as envisioned by Governor Chukwuma Soludo, the Governing Body of the Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu University, COOU, Igbariam, led by the Acting Vice President of the University, Professor Kate Omenugha, has organised a roadside walk ahead of the Tree Planting and Climate Change Summit scheduled for July 17, 2024 at the Igbariam Campus of the University.

Yesterday, the awareness walk in preparation for the event was held in Awka, the capital of Anambra State. About three thousand managers and students of the university were present.

Speaking shortly after the exercise, the Acting Vice President of Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) Igbariam, Professor Omenugha, while commending the staff and students for their large turnout, said the essence of the roadshow is to sensitize the public on the institution’s planned first planting of one million trees and climate action, which is aimed at promoting environmental sustainability.

According to her, the show is a manifestation of the university’s commitment to environmentalism and also to let the world know that COOU is an institution to reckon with in the fight against climate change. She noted that their institution is a green university, hence the theme of the summit is “Tree Strengthening Strategy for a Sustainable Future” to galvanize efforts in planting trees to help combat climate change and make Anambra a green, clean, liveable and prosperous state in Nigeria.

She pointed out that Nigeria, like other countries in the world, is seriously facing climate change and other environmental challenges that impact food security, access to energy and employment, among others. She made it clear that the tree planting initiative is expected to beautify the university campus and contribute to a healthier environment by absorbing carbon dioxide, improving air quality, providing natural shade, promoting the green economy and increasing climate literacy.

While thanking Governor Chukwuma Soludo for encouraging COOU’s efforts in reclaiming the environment through the donation of one hundred thousand palm trees to the institution to promote an eco-friendly environment in the university, the Vice Chancellor pointed out that through the “One Staff – One Tree, One Student – ​​One Tree” initiative, all staff and students of the institution will play an active role in saving the endangered environment through proactive climate action through tree planting.

Also, the Chairman of the COOU Five Year Tree Planting Committee, Professor Kingsley Nwozor, indicated that the essence of the tree planting plan is to reclaim the land purposefully. He stressed that the work on the main roads should ensure that people can walk to the school anywhere without the sun hitting them, under the natural canopy of trees. He said that the university is already beautifying the eight kilometre long path of the institution with economic trees such as mangoes, cashew nuts and guavas. These trees provide a canopy and also act as windbreaks to weatherproof the university’s infrastructure.

Earlier, the Chairman of the July 17 Summit on Tree Planting and Climate Change, Comrade Peter Nwosu, had stated that the long-awaited tree planting programme is unprecedented in the history of the institution’s green initiatives. He stressed that the July 17 Summit aims to make COOU an environmentally friendly, green and viable institution and stressed the need for everyone to plant trees.

The Vice Chancellor’s dance competition on climate change, won by a student of the institution, Miss Precious Amarachi, was the highlight of the show.