Jalingo — The Taraba State Government has urged students at all levels to embrace tree planting as a collective responsibility to combat the encroaching effects of climate change.
The State Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Aishat Barde, spoke over the weekend while flagging off the state’s 2026 school tree planting campaign at Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), Jalingo.
She explained that the world is facing unprecedented environmental challenges and that climate change is already impacting Taraba State.
According to her, “climate change is no longer a distant conversation; it is affecting our rainfall patterns, agriculture, water resources, biodiversity, and the livelihoods of our people.
“Rising temperatures, drought, flooding, deforestation, desertification, land degradation, and pollution demand urgent action from every one of us.
“One of the simplest yet most powerful actions we can take is to plant and nurture trees.
“A tree is far more than a plant. It is a source of life. Trees provide oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide, reduce erosion, protect our water sources, provide shade, improve biodiversity, and contribute to healthier communities. Every tree planted today is an investment in tomorrow.
“This is why the Government of Taraba State, under the visionary leadership of His Excellency, Dr. Agbu Kefas, is committed to restoring our environment and building a greener, cleaner, and more climate-resilient Taraba.”
The Commissioner urged every student to act as an environmental ambassador by protecting nature, keeping the environment clean, and encouraging others to plant trees.
The Principal of FGGC Jalingo, Rose Sule, thanked the state government for selecting the school for the pioneer phase of the campaign.
She said, “as a school committed to raising well-rounded young women, we see this as education beyond the classroom.”
“This is a practical lesson we trust our students will carry with them long after they leave these walls.”
She further promised that the hundred tree seedlings planted on the school grounds would be nurtured to maturity to foster a greener and climate-friendly environment.
