Chinedum Treasure
The Community Empowerment, Development, Youths and Knowledge, CEDYK, on Saturday flagged off a tree planting initiative in a well-attended ceremony held at Ukpor in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Moderating the event, the Nnewi North LGA Coordinator of CEDYK, Mr. Evans Danchimah Eberechukwu, highlighted the importance of tree planting to environmental sustainability.
He noted that CEDYK’s mission extends beyond the welfare of its members and officials to empowering humanity and improving the environment.
In his address, the Duke of CEDYK in Nnewi South, Bro. Iyke Uzukwu, said the initiative was launched to encourage members and residents of the LGA and Anambra State at large to embrace tree planting.
Uzukwu stressed the urgent need for afforestation in Anambra to replace depleted tree cover, which he said has exposed the state to environmental degradation.
He added that deforestation has adversely affected the ozone layer, with attendant negative consequences, and called for collective action to address the situation.
“We are flagging off this tree planting program to sensitize the public on the need to replace the trees being cut down daily. Without concerted efforts to encourage tree planting, our environment will soon be laid bare,” he said.
“We are also using this unique occasion to sensitize our members and friends on our core mandate: Community Empowerment, Development, Youths and Knowledge.
“We have the intention of encouraging our members to go into full-scale agriculture. But as it is often said, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a step. This tree planting initiative is the giant step we need to take before other steps.
“I also wish to inform you that CEDYK is in partnership with human rights groups at both the state and federal levels. We have media partners and other forward-looking groups working with us to ensure the overall well-being of our members,” he added.
Uzukwu expressed satisfaction that CEDYK has grown to over a thousand members since its inauguration.
Also speaking, Anambra State Coordinator of the Human Rights Group, Amaka Agbakwuru, commended CEDYK for the initiative, describing it as “a step in the right direction.”
She also reaffirmed her organization’s readiness to partner with CEDYK on issues relating to human rights abuses.
The event featured the distribution of coconut seedlings to attendees and the symbolic planting of a seedling to mark the flag-off.
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