1 day Ago By Hope Abah
By Hope Abah As Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark World Forest Day on 21st March, with the theme, “Forest and Food” which emphasised the deep connection between forest and global food security, Nigerian students are not left behind. As part of the activity to mark the day students from three secondary schools in Makurdi took their campaign on preserving the forests to Benue State government. The students demanded that Benue State government take decisive action against deforestation, warning that it threatens food security, water resources, and livelihoods.
Presenting a position paper to the Commissioner of Water Resources, Environment, and Climate Change, representatives of the Climate Justice Clubs from Government Girls College, Makurdi, Government Model Secondary School Makurdi, and Unique Secondary School Makurdi emphasised the urgent need for stronger forest conservation policies. Marvelous Odo who spoke on behalf of the students, stressed that the theme of World Forest Day 2025, “Forest and Food,” indicated the link between forest health and agricultural sustainability. She noted that deforestation has accelerated environmental degradation, reducing soil fertility and worsening climate-related disasters such as droughts and floods.
Odo pointed out several pressing issues, including: loss of biodiversity and soil depletion, reduced groundwater recharge and increased pollution, disrupted pollination, declining agricultural yields and impact on rural communities, especially women and girls. The students therefore urged the government to strengthen laws against illegal logging, promote large-scale reforestation projects, support community-led conservation initiatives, integrate climate education into school curricula and encourage sustainable agricultural practices. The Climate Justice Clubs, supported by Environment and Climate Change Amelioration Initiative (ECCAI) and Education As A Vaccine (EVA) under the African Activist for Climate Justice Project (AACJ), reaffirmed their commitment to environmental advocacy and called for a policy dialogue to develop a comprehensive forest conservation strategy.
“We stand ready to collaborate with the government and other stakeholders to protect our forests for future generations,” the students posited. Earlier, ECCAI’s Executive Director, Mrs. Victoria Esa, told the commissioner that they were at his office as part of their activities to commemorate the World’s Forest Day by raising the awareness for people to treat their forest with conservation.
“We are here with children from our Climate Justice Club to commemorate this year’s World Forest Day. We see the ministry as a key stakeholder in our efforts, and these young children are passionate about the environment and its sustainability,” Esa said. Responding, the Commissioner of Water Resources, Environment, and Climate Change, Odoh Ugwu, maintained that his ministry remain committed to protecting the forests and environment while doing everything possible to make the world a better place to live.
Ugwu said, “My desire is for us to make progress beyond where we were last year, but some challenges have slowed us down. Forestry is not just about trees – the forests around us support the environment. They absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen.
“We are fighting serious environmental threats, and if we do not work together, the consequences will affect us and future generations. The youth are the future, and we will continue to support them. We already have a climate change policy, and regarding forestry, my team and I will begin work on a dedicated policy.
We will soon have a well-equipped nursery in the state to strengthen our efforts in combating the environmental threats we face.” Unlock AI's potential! Get top prompts for content, blogs, social media, research, draft proposals and more. Boost creativity start using AI tools today! Click here to learn how it works.
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