Soon, you might be forgiven for thinking AUN is located in a tropical rainforest, not the savanna ecoregion. Last week, an Abuja-based public-spirited firm, Bluenile Associates, donated 1,000 young trees to AUN, which they hope will significantly contribute to the campus environment.
What AUN received from the kind-hearted donors include:
- 300 neem trees (Azadirachta indica)
- 300 umbrella trees (Terminalia Mantaly), and
- 400 fruit trees (like Mango, and others)
"These trees, with their unique qualities and contributions, aim to not only provide shade and visual appeal but also offer potential educational and environmental benefits to the university community," according to Mustapha Shehu, on behalf of Bluenile Associates.
Mr. Mustapha Shehu expressed the belief that the donated trees will not only enrich the physical landscape of the American University of Nigeria but also foster a sense of environmental consciousness among students, faculty, and staff. "By planting and nurturing these trees, we collectively invest in a more sustainable future for generations to come," said Mr. Shehu.
Acknowledging the historic intervention, President DeWayne Frazier, who could not hide his excitement, thanked Bluenile for the thoughtful gift. President Frazier, who remarked that the trees would further beautify the earth God has given us, directed the AUN Sustainability Office and student environmental sustainability club to take charge and drive the tree planting exercise.