Adamawa State Ministry of Environment in Collaboration with Environmental Care Foundation (ECF) Advocates for Mass Tree Planting in Adamawa, spells out special emphasis on Moringa.

BY: Umar Aliyu

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Yola, Hajiya  Maisaratu Bello calls for Mass Planting of Trees in Adamawa. She made the  appeal during a one day sensitization workshop on the importance of Moringa organized by the Ministry of Environment, Yola in conjunction with Environmental Care Foundation held at Wetlands, Yola on the 16^th October, 2019.

She seeks the collaboration of media houses, NGOs, religious bodies, schools and the general public in creating awareness and sensitization on the importance and benefits of  creating and maintaining good hygiene, planting of trees and safer ways of using chemicals,  she maintains that protecting environment is a duty for all and a  responsibility of all.

Dr. Rabiu .I. Ajiya of  Federal College of Education, Yola  in his presentation at the workshop explained that, about seventy percent (70%) of human ailments are food related,  20% accident and 10% are air related. He maintained that human medicines (drugs, injections or syrups etc) are mostly food extracts. Dr. Rabiu further stated that knowing food contents is a concern and a responsibility of everyone.

According him, Moringa contains most of  the nutrients human body need to develop, it  helps pregnant and nursing mothers in supporting their nutritional requirements. It also helps in the development of bones and brains of the born and unborn children. “ Moringa seeds  are used in producing Moringa oil which is the most valuable oil on earth that is used in pharmaceutical industries. Dr. Rabiu  maintained that moringa leaves has all  the nutrients needed by human body.

The speaker highlighted some benefits of using Moringa to include but not limited to: treatment of  diabetes, blood pressure, HIV. It can boost milk to nursing mothers.

According to Dr. Rabiu, the existence of Moringa trees on earth helps in reducing the menace of global warning  as it produces out oxygen and take in carbon dioxide. Dr.  Rabiu urged participants and the general public to embark on a massive campaigns, sensitizations and subsequent planting of Moringa trees in the state.

Thousands of moringa seedlings, guava and some other trees was distributed to participants. The participants of the workshop were drawn from across NGOs, educational institutions, MDAs and some key invited guests.              

The workshop ended with a closing remark from the deputy permanent secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mr. Toni Reuben who thanked the participants and expressed satisfaction with the presentations. Mr. Reuben give special appreciation to the owners and management of  Wetlands, Yola for giving out a hall to host the programme