The alumni body of all Federal Government Colleges, Federal Government Girls Colleges, Kings College and Queens College in Nigeria, under the aegis of Unity Schools Old
Students Association (USOASA) resident in Port Harcourt, partnered with the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Bori Camp, Port Harcourt and Rotary Club of Port Harcourt Eco, to plant ‘Unity Trees’ at the army barracks to commemorate the world day for Forestry, Agriculture and preservation of Green Earth, a day set aside by the United Nations to promote afforestation campaigns and advocacy.
The leader of USOSAns in Port Harcourt, Sir Davies Okarevu in his opening remark
expressed his appreciation to the GOC 6 Division, Nigerian Army, for granting
their request to plant over 200 trees at the premises of the barrack, noting, that
the exercise will be beneficial to not just the Nigerian Army but the environment as a whole in the future.
“Let me use this medium to thank the GOC 6 Division, Major General Jamal
Abdussalam for granting our request to carry out this exercise. We are delighted to be here today, planting Unity Trees at the barrack; trees are things we need for sustainability of lives here on earth. What we are doing here will
be of immense benefit to the residents at the barrack and the environment in
general in the long run.” Okarevu said.
He also stated that the Nigerian Army and the Alumni Association share similar core
values, one of which is the unity of Nigeria. “The Nigerian Army represents what USOSA
represents. The Army is designed to sustain the unity of Nigeria. The unity we are promoting and portraying as USOSAns, they are doing same on the fields daily,” he stated.
In his response, the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Bori Camp, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, who was represented by Col. A.A Umar thanked USOSAns Resident in Port Harcourt for considering the barracks for this laudable exercise while affirming the importance of tree planting to the environment.
“I wish to extend the greetings of the GOC 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General
Jamal Abdussalam to all of you. It is indeed heartwarming to have your Association here and for recognizing the Port Harcourt barracks as one of the places of convergence to plant trees for us. I believe as a biologist by training, what you are doing here today is great for us. I know the importance of tree planting in the environment and what it represents in the carbon cycle.”
While extolling the Military as an organization that upholds the virtues of unity as evident in the personnel formation in the military, the GOC said, “The military in itself is the highest unity organization that you can find in any country because, it is drawn from virtually all nooks and crannies of the society.” A military veteran and member, Advisory Council of USOSAns resident in Port Harcourt, Rear Admiral Nicholas Bakpo (Rtd), shared the same view on the need for a united nation, he hopes that the unity tree that was planted close to the office of the GOC will serve as a constant reminder on the need to always promote a one united nation.
Adding his voice to the exercise, the President of Rotary Club of Port Harcourt Eco, Dr. Anthony Ikpor, commended the initiative by USOSAns Resident in Port Harcourt, describing it as laudable as it will improve the environment, promising that the partnership will be sustained.
Dr. Anthony said, “we decided to partner with USOSAns Resident in Port Harcourt to
plant Unity Trees because our major interest is protecting the environment and tree planting is part of the ways to protect our environment. The rise of climate and environmental issues is as a result of indiscriminately deforestation, of which, tree planting will help reduce the impact of deforestation. We believe this exercise will not only end here, it is going to be sustained”, he assured.
Leaders from all the parties took turns in planting the Unity trees, among them was the representative of the President General of USOSA, Michael Magaji, Imabong Eshiet who is the welfare Secretary of the Association. The exercise is one out of many initiatives of USOSA in creating a safe environment for all.
