Akure-Owena Lions Club has reaffirmed its commitment to environmental sustainability through tree planting initiative aimed at nurturing 50 Teak tree seedlings to maturity at the campus of Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA).
Speaking during the tree planting exercise, the Club President, Lion Prof. Adekunle Ayokanmi Dada, said the project would go beyond planting trees, noting that the club had put in place a Tree Care Programme to ensure continuous monitoring and nurturing of the seedlings.
He explained that the club had assured its partners, the Federal University Technology Akure and the Ondo State Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, that the trees would be properly maintained until maturity.
According to him, the Lions Club would periodically update the university management and the ministry on the progress of the trees as part of its commitment to environmental conservation and sustainability.
Lion Dada added that upon maturity, the club would formally hand over the 50 Teak trees to the university community as a contribution to environmental wellness and nature preservation.
He commended members of Akure-Owena Lions Club, its mentoring clubs Akure Emerald Lions Club, Ikare Diaspora Lions Club and Ilaje Coastal Lions Club as well as other Lions leaders for supporting the initiative.
While welcoming the Vice-Chancellor of FUTA and other guests to the event, Club President described the exercise as a collective effort towards building a healthier and greener environment.
In her remarks, FUTA Vice-chancellor represented by the Deputy Vice-chancellor Academics, Prof. Tope Amos appreciated Akure Owena Lions Club for choosing the university for its tree planting project.
He said that the teak trees would be of tremendous benefit to the over 6000 students on industrial attachment in forestry from different parts of the country.
Prof Amos added that the project would be a boost to the Forestry and Woods programmes of the institution and promised that the institution would nurture the trees to accelerated growth so as to make the project become a veritable assets to the entire university community.
“This service-project will further enhance the status of FUTA as one of the research-based institutions in Nigeria.
“So Akure- Owena Lions Club FUTA appreciates your initiative of Tree Planting greatly.
“I can assure you that it will boost our research for sustainable development”, Prof Amos declared.
Highpoint of the event was the introduction of Mission 1.5 to guests at the programme which got some intending members committed to the formation of a Lions Club at FUTA by which several management staff were decorated with Lions pins.
