The 1985 set of Egbu Girls Old Girls Association (EGOGA), an umbrella body of past students of Egbu Girls Secondary School, Egbu in Owerri North Local Government Area has embarked on tree planting in the school.
The Executive Director, Centre for the Right to Health and Chief Executive of Sustainable Demonstration Farms (SDFarms) Dr. Stella Iwuagwu, the brain behind the idea, who disclosed this to Journalists, emphasized the importance of planting trees.
Dr. Iwuagwu said the 1985 set of EGOGA deemed it necessary to give back to the school that groomed them to success, hence the tree planting project.
Some of the trees planted were pawpaw, mango, palm fruit, sour sop, citruses, strategically planted on drive/walk ways around the school premises and the dormitory.
Dr. Iwuagwu said Egbu Girls Secondary School was one of the topmost schools in Imo State.
She regretted that some of the trees that provided food and shelter for the students then, were no more, and stressed the need to replant them.
She advised the students to become environmental stewards, mobilize others to nurture the environment, and think of what they could do to add value to the school after graduation.
Dr. Iwuagwu encouraged the students to commit to nurturing the trees with support of their teachers and promised to teach them how to grow the next set of fruit trees from the ones planted.
The Principal of Egbu Girls Secondary School and an Old Girl of the school, Mrs Sophia Chukwu commended the 1985 EGOGA for embarking on such a laudable economic project and called on other Old Girls to join hands and develop their alma mater.
Mrs. Chidimma Ikenna-Ume who teaches Agricultural Science said the students would have enough fruits to eat soon and encouraged them to take Agricultural Science seriously.
The students expressed gratitude to the Old Girls, 1985 set and promised to nurture the trees.
The school tree planting initiative is a part of the One Million Fruit Tree Planting campaign, a collaborative initiative of Youth Advocates for Environment Safety and Health, Centre for the Right to Health and SDFarms and sponsored by EGOGA 85 set. Alumni of other schools should take a leaf and replicate the project or contact Dr. Stella Iwuagwu for collaboration.