TREES are essential for supporting biodiversity and promoting human well-being.
A Pastor, Mathew Hosier sees the act of tree planting as a declaration of optimism for the future. He believes that planting trees reflects hope in the future of the earth and its potential for renewal. This perspective emphasizes the symbolic significance of tree planting as an act of faith in the possibility of a better world. It is, perhaps, on the strength of this that the “Plant a Tree” Campaign of RETECH Foundation in secondary schools across Nigeria emerges as a vital discussion in The Pointer platform, as the Chairman of the Foundation, Engr. Ronye Egborge speaks to EDNA EMENI on the initiative and it’s overall benefits to the environment. Excerpts…
May we get to know you sir?
My name is Engr. Egborge, managing Director, RETECH Engineering Services, and the Founder/Chairman RETECH Foundation. I’m a Deltan and holds a Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA) with distinction from University of Oxford, MSc in Engineering (Geology) / Diploma from Imperial College, London, and a Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering (B Eng) from EUT, Minna.
As Managing Director, RETECH Engineering Services, my company deals in Financial Management, Business Development; Operations Management Negotiation, Human Resources Management, Mentorship, Engineering Management and Strategy Development and Implementation.
Recently, RETECH Foundation embarked on “Plant a Tree” Campaign in schools. What is it all about?
That is correct. RETECH Foundation launched the ‘Plant a Tree (PAT) campaign, as the second series under our Good Citizenship Programme. Our objective is to plant 1,000 in 100 schools across Nigeria, saving the planet one tree at a time.
The RETECH Foundation Green Citizens Programme aims at increasing environmental and social awareness in schools. Through this initiative, we aim to reduce carbon footprint, enhance biodiversity, reduce erosion, mitigate climate impacts and increase awareness of the importance of nature-based solutions to climate change. It also aims to improve air quality, improve water quality, contribute to mental and physical well-being and reduce heat.
Working in collaboration with the Edo State Secondary Education Board, we have identified 20 public schools in Benin City, Edo State, where we have kicked-off the campaign and have so far implemented the campaign in the following 10 schools: Egor Secondary School, New Era Girls College, AGGS Benin City, Ogbe Secondary School, Oguola College, Eyaen Secondary School, Uteh Secondary School, Umelu Secondary School, Uwelu Secondary School and Queen Ede Secondary School.
A total of 100 trees have so far been planted by 200 student-participants.
We aim to complete the other 10 schools in Benin City in the month of May 2025.
The 10 public secondary schools in Benin where we plan to move the PAT campaign include: Evbareke Secondary School, Edo Boys High School, Idia College, Ugbowo Secondary School, Iyekogba Grammar School, Asoro Grammar School, Ohonre Secondary School, Uselu Secondary School, Edion Secondary School and Idogbo Secondary School Once these schools are completed, we will move the PAT campaign to 20 public secondary schools in Delta State.
Once the campaign is completed, 2,000 pupils would have taken part in the PAT campaign across 100 schools in five States.
Could you please shed some more light on this?
Our “Plant a Tree” Campaign is designed to have a significant impact on the students and school environment, thus contribute to a more sustainable and healthy future.
The programme would, in the end, bring about carbon sequestration. By this I mean, trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, thereby helping to mitigate climate change, which one of the adverse effects is the depletion of the ozone layer and intense heat in our environment.
Like I said earlier, already, the campaign has taken off in Edo State, in Queen Edo Secondary School, where we have established the RFs Green Citizen’s Club – Plant a Tree Campaign at Queen Edo Secondary School.
As part of our “Plant a Tree” (PAT) campaign, we visited Queen Edo Secondary School, Benin City, where 20 students, under the supervision of a horticulturist, diligently took part in planting 10 trees in their school.
This process is going to be replicated in selected public secondary schools across Nigeria, until we successfully plant one thousand trees. We’re irrevocably committed to this because RETECH Foundation is environment friendly, so we are not looking back in this regard.
We would like to thank the members of Edo State Secondary Education Board (SSEB) for approving this project in 20 schools in the state. We would also like to thank RF’s Project Leader, Nosa Iyamu for an excellent job in leading the implementation of this initiative in Queen Edo Secondary School.
So, what modalities have you put in place to ensure the success of the campaign in school?
Thank you. In all of the schools where we are going to plant the 1,000 trees, we are going to first sensitize the students on what the Plant a Tree Campaign is about, engage a qualified and passionate Horticulturist that would supervise and engage the students in planting 10 trees in their school environment. This will be capped with the establishment of RF’s Green Citizens Club; which would help to sustain the consciousness/necessity to appreciate the culture of tree planting, not only in their school, but in their environment generally.
But I’m happy that Delta State is going to be one of the States that would benefit from the Plant a Tree initiative. As we have always done in our previous programmes of awarding scholarships to deserving secondary school students, Paint Your School Programme and the Power2Schools Programme (P2S), inspired by the need to provide clean, reliable and sustainable source of energy to energize excluded schools, schools in Delta State will not be left out of this new initiative.
What concrete plan has RETECH Foundation that would ensure the take-off of the “Plant a Tree” Campaign in Delta State?
In Delta State, we plan on taking our plant a tree campaign to 20 public secondary schools in the 3 senatorial districts of the State. We expect 400 students to participate in the planting 200 trees in public secondary schools in the state supervised by a horticulturist.
What are the likely benefits of the “Plant a Tree” campaign to the Students, the Schools and the environment in general?
Thank you very much. The RETECH Foundation’s “Plant a Tree” Campaign was well conceptualized, with the aim of instilling in the benefitting Schools and student, the consciousness and need to protect the environment by planting trees. When you plant a tree, you are directly or indirectly protecting and taking care of Mother Earth, where you are; it is our common home. Then, you will grow in peace and wisdom while mitigating the climate to restore good weather patterns and healthy life.
Anybody who resists the call to “Plant a Tree” is resisting the call to live more harmoniously with nature, and also fails to recognize the fact that we are part of nature, not separate from it.
Haven said this, the benefitting students and schools of RETECH Foundation “Plant a Tree” campaign have so much to benefit; and by extension their communities too.
By the time the trees are planted in the schools and are grown, they would facilitate carbon sequestration. By this, I mean, the trees would absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in the school, then help to mitigate climate change. This is very important in view of the increasing heat generation, caused by the depletion of the ozone layer. Beyond this, the trees would help to improve the quality of air in the benefitting Schools by absorbing pollutants and particulate matter, improve air quality and students and staff health.
In schools that have challenge of soil erosion prevention, the roots of the trees would help to hold the soil in place, and in the long run check or prevent erosion and landslides. Added to this is the tendency of the trees to make for biodiversity conservation in benefitting Schools, as they would, over time help to provide habitat for various plants and animals species.
Outside of this, planting trees in the schools would have the tendency to increase the aesthetic value of the benefitting Schools, as they enhance the beauty of the school’s environment and enhance the life of the staff and students.
And don’t forget that the trees, when fully grown can provide shades and create a pleasant environment for the staff and students to relax under, especially when the weather is hot due to the intense heat of the sun.
Don’t also forget that RETECH Foundation is irrevocably committed to the health of students in school, hence we do everything within our power to provide power, water, paint the school building through our “Paint Your School” Initiative (PYS). In line with the same objective, planting trees is spending time in nature, surrounded by trees. This would have positive effects on the mental health of the students and staff of benefitting Schools.
To further elaborate on this, the RETECH Foundation “Plant a Tree” Campaign will provide a wide range of educational, environmental, social and personal development benefits to the participants including: Environmental Awareness and Stewardship. This would encourage hands-on-learning about climate change, deforestation and ecosystem health, build a sense of responsibility for protecting the environment, helps students to understand the role trees play in absorbing carbon dioxide, providing oxygen, supporting biodiversity and preventing erosion.
The campaign would encourage Practical Science Education that would reinforce lessons in Biology, Geography and Environmental Science. It would encourage scientific curiosity, as students learn about plant growth, soil types, water cycles and sustainability
It is important to state that, the “Plant a Tree” Campaign in schools would assist in Character Building and Life Skills in students, teach values like patience, responsibility and long term thinking (since trees grow over years). It would also promote teamwork, leadership, and planning – especially since the students organise or lead the planting activities. In addition, it would give a sense of accomplishment and pride in contributing to something lasting.
I want to also say that, the campaign would help to promote the health and wellbeing of students in schools, as it involves outdoor activities that would improve physical health, reduce stress and boost mental wellbeing. It would also nurture a connection with nature, which can support emotional resilience
The participating students will join our growing number of Good Citizens currently in excess of 10,000.
Above all these, there are so many benefits of planting trees in our public schools, in addition to the environmental benefits, it improves the school environment, making it greener and more attractive. It can also strengthen school-community bonds and encourages students to see themselves as active citizens, capable of creating positive change.
Students can return years later and see the trees they’ve planted, creating a lasting connection to the school and fostering a legacy mind-set.
On the sides. Are you in anyway worried about the gradual erosion of green environment in this part of the world and the poor or lack of awareness of the culture of tree planting in our compounds/communities? What do you have to say about this?
I’m deeply worried about this, and I think it is about the time to address this sad development in Nigeria.
Let me emphasis here that, RETECH Foundation’s “Plant a Tree” Campaign in secondary schools in Nigeria is intended for the benefitting students to carryover the campaign and culture to their wider environment at home, or anywhere they may find themselves. It is about the consciousness to plant trees in our environment because of their immense importance to man that matters. Therefore, if you fail to plant trees you are consciously or unconsciously killing your environment; and by extension, destroying mother earth.
There is a quote that says: “The time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is now”. This quote stresses the importance of taking action in planting a tree, even if it’s not perfect timing.
Very importantly, we must realize that trees are the lungs of the earth; as this underscores the importance the crucial role trees play in producing oxygen and supporting life on our planet. Every tree planted is a step towards a greener tomorrow, as this encourages us to take small actions that collectively make a significant impact.
Apart from the fact that planting trees can be a powerful way to promote sustainability and environmental stewardship, it is an investment in the future. Yes, it is true that trees take time to grow, but their benefits will be enjoyed by future generations.
