By Bamidele Odegbami
The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) has reaffirmed its dedication to environmental sustainability by planting an additional 3,000 tree seedlings on campus.
The initiative was made possible through generous donations from First Bank and American Tower Corporation, facilitated by the Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF), on September 6, 2024. The tree species include 1,400 Terminalia Superba (Afara/Yellow Pine), 900 Parkia biglobosa (Iru/Locust Beans), and 700 Khaya Ivorensis (Oganwo/Mahogany).
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, during the tree planting, expressed gratitude to the donors and pledged that the University would nurture the seedlings to maturity.
He emphasised FUNAAB’s commitment to partnerships and its goal of becoming a hub for innovation and progress.
Corroborating the Vice-Chancellor, the Head, Quality Control and Assurance, Prof. Segun Oladoye highlighted the economic and social advantages of the project, promising to nurture the seedlings to achieve their objectives.
He added that the tree planting initiative aims to enhance biodiversity, improve air quality, and reap numerous benefits for the University.
Mr. Lateef Abdulsalam, the representative of American Tower Corporation and the NCF Environmental Coordinator, Mrs. Adedamola Ogutuga emphasised the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility and reducing the impact of climate change, adding presently, Nigeria’s biodiversity stands at 7%, while they plan to increase it to 25% by 2047.
Recall that the University had recently planted 3,000 cocoa seedlings, and in collaboration with the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), FUNAAB planted 4,000 tree seedlings, including the Forestry Department students who had also earlier planted 2,000 Gmelina tree seedlings. All these initiatives demonstrated FUNAAB’s commitment to environmental sustainability and its efforts to create a thriving, eco-friendly environment for future generations.
