The first phase of a campus-wide afforestation campaign took off on September 7, 2023, with President Dewayne Frazier leading students, faculty, and staff members to plant tree seedlings to protect the environment, provide shelter, and further beautify the campus.
Recently, an environment-conscious, public-spirited firm, Bluenile Associates Limited, donated one thousand species of trees comprising 300 neem trees, 300 umbrella trees, and 400 other varieties of fruit trees. It is from this stock that the campaign’s seedlings were selected.
President Frazier, taking part in his first tree-planting exercise since taking over the leadership of the University last summer, described the campaign as vital for the environment's health. President Frazier also described the donation as significant and unique and thanked Bluenile's Head of Project and representative, Mr. Mustafa Shehu, for the kind gesture.
Students Team Advocating Regional Sustainability (STARS Club) members were at the forefront of the tree-planting campaign. They tagged it "Tree Planting PRO MAX." and advertised it as an afforestation campaign which is good for the sustainability of the AUN campus' ecosystem while increasing carbon capture for healthier living.
STARS Club President, Ms. Ohirijesu Okonta Noelle, gave a small talk on the beautiful life of trees, which she said grows regardless of the conditions, bears the brunt of natural disasters, and still offers much to the environment.
"Trees are important and some of their contributions include but not limited to supplying oxygen, enhancing air quality, climate improvement, water protection, soil preservation, and encouraging biodiversity. Trees contribute to the environment via moderating the effects of the sun, rain, and wind," she stated.
Prof. Gidado Suleiman of the School of Arts and Sciences was present to support and participate in the campaign. He also appreciated the gesture of the donor and said that a tree is a gift and a wonderful creation by God, considering its enormous advantages on earth and to human beings. He encouraged everyone not only to plant trees on campus but also to plant trees at home to make the environment green.
The Director of AUN's Sustainability Program, Mr. Raymond Obindu, and the Dean of Students Affairs, Mr. Byron Bullock, were also present, alongside several faculty and staff members.
In continuation of the afforestation campaign, AUN students, on September 13, 2023, reached out to Shagari Nursery and Primary School in Yola town to plant trees around the school premises and extend the ecological benefits enjoyed on the beautiful AUN campus.
The Head Teacher of Shagari Nursery and Primary School, Mr. Dahiru Ahmadu Chiroma, who could not hold back his joy while narrating the string of community services AUN students have carried out at his school, thanked AUN and its students for the good jobs they do to assist where it is needed.
"I am impressed with the creativity of AUN students in rendering assistance to schools, and people of the Yola communities. I am very impressed. Thank you to all of you, and May Allah bless you," he stated.
Reported by John Abah