The Good Deeds Day, Kwara Chapter, a coalition of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), on Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Ilorin, distributed and planted trees across schools in Kwara State.
Some of the benefitting schools include Taoheed Secondary School, Forte Credence International School, St. Anthony Secondary School, Bishop Smith Secondary School and ECWA Secondary School, Ganmo.
Speaking to newsmen during the tree-planting exercise, Mrs. Funmilayo Osiegbu, the team Lead of the Coalition, said that the tree planting drive was part of the activities of the coalition in commemorating 2025 Good Deeds Day.
She explained that the group targets to plant 1,000 tree across schools in Kwara, adding that the initiative was being done in phases.
Osiegbu stated that the Good Deed Day is globally celebrated in April but shifted to June due to some circumstances.
“The reason for having the tree planting drive is to be able to fulfill the United Nations SDGs 13 and 15 on climate change.
“This is to sensitise our children on the effects of climate change. There are many things that are affecting the environment right now.
“We have the Ozone layer being depleted because of pollution. There are plastics causing lots of degradation,” she said.
Osiegbu, who is also the Executive Director, Bundles Care Support Initiative, pointed out that sensitising children on tree planting in schools was crucial to fostering environmental awareness and responsibility.
According to her, the tree planting drive also includes educational talks, demonstration of how to plant trees and its importance to the earth and survival of human and animals.
She added that the trees being planted would help improve the quality of the environment within the schools, provide food in the form of fruits from the trees, provide shelter and beautify the schools.
The team lead of the Coalition emphasised that the initiative would encourage afforestation and combat global warming by absorbing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
In his remarks, Dr Lateef Olagunju, the Secretary General, National Commission for UNESCO, Nigeria, commended the Coalition for the initiative on tree planting across Kwara schools.
Olagunju, represented by the UNESCO Desk Officer of the Kwara Ministry of Education, Mr. Odedeji Taiye, said the programme highlights the importance of kindness, generosity, and community service.
According to him, tree planting is a perfect way to demonstrate these values, as it benefits our environment, our communities, and future generations.
“By planting trees, we are not only beautifying our surroundings but also reducing carbon footprint.
“Trees absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. they also support biodiversity, and provide habitats for various species,” he said.
The Head Boy, ECWA Secondary School, Ganmo, Olamilekan Akinola, expressed pleasure on the tree planting drive in his school.
He promised to encourage other young students to plant trees in order to save the planet earth from degradation.
Also in his appreciative remarks, Dr Steve Timilade, the Principal of ECWA Secondary School, lauded the Coalition and pledged to continue to educate the students on the importance of planting trees in their communities.
By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal