...Secures over 1,000 cocoa seedlings for planting
At Ebonyi State University, EBSU, the Faculty of Management Sciences through the Eco-Friendly Initiative in conjunction with Ike-Elechi Ogba Foundation (IEOF) has embarked on tree planting to ensure that the Eco-system of the University is not depleted.
Speaking during the event, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Chigozie Ogbu expressed joy over the initiative, noting that the project would bring many benefits to the university especially in promoting her serene environment and economic potency.
Prof Ogbu represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academics, Prof Eugene Nweke further appreciated the programs of the Eco-Friendly Initiative team in Ebonyi State, particularly the Faculty of the Management Sciences in the university, and however urged them to sustain the tempo.
He recalled the University started the program with the Faculty of Education, noting that, the institution had planted over 2000 trees.
Ogbu while speaking on the risks associated with tree planting, noted that the financial benefit, among other gains, can never be overemphasized.
He said: "You can't quantify what you will get from your farm and the reason is very simple. There are disasters associated with planting. We have the risks of natural disasters, and others.
"Let me say that the fruits we get from trees are enormous, and without mincing words, we can get millions of naira. I can't say the exact amount but I can say we can get millions of naira.
"For instance, when you have a thousand trees, it grows for life, and while it gets older, it gets bigger and produces more fruits. That's the picture of the tress - the older they are, the bigger they are, multiplying for more profits.
"So it's an investment that expands incrementally. That's why I said you can't quantify the amount of money but the money from it, increases. Why does it increase? It increases because the demand for fruit is getting high. We are hopeful that we get a lot of revenue from that."
On the estimated figure of trees planted so far in the institution, the Vice Chancellor said, "the tree planting exercise is ongoing in the university, even though there are thousands of them already planted.
He said: "We have planted thousands of trees in all the faculties. I will refer you to the one already growing. We have our total figure now, but I'm sure we have over two hundred thousand already planted, not only in this faculty but across our four campuses.
"We started this project last year, the first place was the faculty of education, and in near future, the beauty of this place will be wonderful."
He commended the staff and students of the university for their contributions to promoting the initiative in the institution since the flag-off.
"We are doing this in partnership with the students. It's because the students are everywhere, and they are committed to it, that's why we launch one staff, one tree and one student, one tree. It's a community project, it's not imposed on anybody in this university and all our students and staff appreciate the initiative because we need trees and a beautiful environment."
Also, the Chairman of the occasion and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration of the University said, Prof Happiness Oselebe, the adoption of an eco-friendly initiative would help to boost the aesthetic nature of the school and her economy.
"We are planting trees not only for aesthetic value but also for economic and food values," she said.
Earlier the Dean of the Faculty of Management Sciences at Ebonyi State University, Professor Ike Elechi Ogba said that his team had secured over 1,000 cocoa seedlings to plant within the premises of the faculty. He noted that the initiative would promote both the aesthetic and economic values of the institution, calling all and sundry to join hands by promoting the activities of the team, in their fight against global warming forecast.
Highlights of the event were the planting of different trees by the University Management, the Commissioning of the toilet facilities in the faculty by the VC, and awards of Excellence to the University Vice Chancellor, and his Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) by the student union leadership in the faculty.
