Unity Tree planted in PH as USOSA, Army, Rotary partner
Schools Old Students Association (USOASA) resident in Port Harcourt have partnered with the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Bori Camp, Port Harcourt, as well as Rotary Club of Port Harcourt Eco, to begin the drive for unity by planting a Unity Tree.
USOSA is the alumni body of all Federal Government Colleges, Federal Government Girls Colleges, Kings College and Queens College in Nigeria. The essence is to launch a broadbased coalition to drive Nigeria’s unity through the elite groups down to the grassroots.
They thus used the opthe portunity of the World Day for Forestry, Agriculture, and Preservation of Green Earth to anchor the project.
According to the coalition, it is a day set aside by the United Nations to promote afforestation campaigns and advocacy.
leader of USOSANS in Port Harcourt, Davies Okarevu, in his opening remarks, expressed appreciation to the GOC 6 Division, Nigerian Army, for granting their request to plant over 200 trees at the premises of the barracks, noting, that the exercise would be beneficial to not just the Nigerian Army but the environment as a whole in the future.
He also stated that the Nigerian Army and the Alumni Association shared similar core values, one of which, he stated, is the unity of Nigeria.
He said: “As a biologist by training, I can relate with what you are doing with trees, and I believe what you are doing here today is great for us.”
A military veteran and member, Advisory Council of USOSANS resident in Port Harcourt, a retired Rear Admiral, Nicholas Bakpo, shared the same view on the need for a united nation.
Adding his voice to the exercise, the President of Rotary Club of Port Harcourt Eco, Anthony Ikpor, commended the initiative by USOSANS, describing it as laudable.
He said it would improve the environment, and promised that the partnership would be sustained.
Anthony said the scheme is to protect the environment. “The rise of climate and environmental issues is as a result of indiscriminate deforestation, of which, tree planting would help reduce the impact of deforestation. We believe this exercise will not only end here, it is going to be sustained”.
Leaders from all the parties took turns in planting the Unity trees, among them being Imabong Eshiet, the welfare Secretary of the Association, who represented the President-general of USOSA, Michael Magaji.
The exercise is said to be one out of many initiatives of USOSA in creating a safe environment for all.