World Environment Day: NEPL tackles desertification, plants 1000 trees in host communities in Edo
From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
The NNPC E&P Limited (NEPL), a subsidiary of NNPC Limited, said it has planted 1000 trees in rural schools and host communities as part of effort to commemorate the 2024 world Environment Day and tackle desertification in Edo State.
The theme of the this year’s World environment day was Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience.
Speaking at an event to mark the day, the Managing Director, NEPL, Nicolas Foucart, urged the host communities and schools to take ownership of the trees and ensure that they are protected.
Represented by Mr Mark Anuku, Executive director, Central Technical Services, Foucart said NEPL was committed to minimising its environmental footprint through innovative technologies, sustainable practices and key initiatives.
He noted that through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes, the company had carried out environmental awareness in its host communities on the harmful practices that impact the ecosystem and the positive practices.
“Today, we gather to celebrate World Environment Day (WED), a day that holds immense significance for us as a company.
” Today is NEPL annual tree-planting campaigns in partnership with local communities and schools aimed at developing effective and sustainable land management practices to limit desertification and enhance the ecosystem resistance to drought.
“This year 2024, in line with Theme of the event, we have planted 1,000 trees in communities around our operating areas.
“In doing this we have engaged schools, women, youths and indeed the entire communities with the aim of educating them in the advantages of tree planting.
“Our host communities have committed to take ownership of this initiatives, and by the WED 2026, it is hoped that those trees would have taken firm foundation and poised for provision of countless benefits to humanity in the future, ” he said.
In his welcome address, the Executive Director, Business Services, Engr. Telema Isokariari appealed to stakeholders to work collectively as a team to restore damaged lands and enhance farming methods.
Isokariari was represented by the Manager, Health Safety and Environment (HSE), Mr Sylvester Okwuoha.
Also, the guest speaker, Prof. Joel Umeuduji in his lecture titled
Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience, said over 25 percent of the global territorial surface and 3.2 billion people were currently affected by land degradation.
Umeuduji encouraged public enlightenment to stimulate public participation in conservation matters.
