ASIUWHU : FLAG’S OFF TREE PLANTING

By Anita Uche Chukwuma-Ugbejie

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nelson Mandela Garden in Delta State, Chief Newton Jibunor, has underscored the place of trees in sustaining the environment.

The CEO stated this when the Commissioner for Environment in the state, Chief Godspower Omafuvwe Asiuwhu JP , visited the garden in Asaba to plant trees to mark his 19th marriage anniversary.

Chief Jibunor commended the commissioner for taking a bold step in recognising the importance of trees in human life and prayed for the couple, just as he advised Nigerians to see trees as sustainance of life.

The commissioner, who dedicated the planting of the trees to his 19th marriage anniversary, said he decided to plant trees as a renewal and appreciation to God for the blessings in his marriage.

While appreciating the management of the garden for creating the avenue for the ceremony, Chief Asiuwhu advised Deltans to always plant trees for their own good.

He also appreciated his wife and children for their love and support.

The commissioner was also at Ubulu-Uku Community where he met with the Traditional Council and commended the community for donating land for a forest reserve.

Chief Asiuwhu said the visit was aimed at assuring Ubulu-Uku Community of the readiness of the state government to plant trees in the forest reserve.

He appealed to the people to always protect the forest as they would benefit from the forest reserve.

Responding, the Ojigwu of Ubulu-Uku, Chief Samuel Nwabuokei and the Secretary, Barr. Joseph Obazei, expressed gratitude to the state government for the tree planting.

They said the community would continue to support the state government, pointing out that the forest reserve needed constant monitoring to forestall its being encroached by herders, who might turn it to a grazing land.