By joshua Barr. Ladi Jatto’s Green Revolution: GGPI Boss Flags Off Tree Planting, Writing Materials, Reusable Pads Distribution In Kogi Central
…Says Initiative Is Personal Commitment To A Friendly, Healthy Environment
In continuation of her personal initiatives aimed at making the environment friendly, healthy and sustainable, the Chief Executive Officer of Global Green Pillars Initiative (GGPI), Barr. Ladi Ahmed Jatto, OON, has flagged off a large-scale tree planting and educational support programme across secondary schools in Kogi Central.
The intervention, which includes the distribution of writing materials, eco-friendly reusable pads and the planting of economic and shade trees, is powered by Barr. Jatto as part of her several personal efforts in environmental advocacy, climate education and girl-child empowerment.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Barr. Jatto, who also serves as the State Project Coordinator of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project, said the school outreach is not a one-off event, but one of her many deliberate personal commitments to building a culture of environmental responsibility from the grassroots.
“This is a personal mission for me, among several others I have undertaken over the years to make our environment friendly and healthy. I believe that true environmental change must start with our young people. If we teach a child to plant and nurture a tree today, we are raising a generation that will protect the earth tomorrow,” she said.
Barr. Jatto, a recipient of the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), explained that instilling the culture of tree planting amongst young people, particularly secondary school children, is critical because trees play an irreplaceable role in human survival and environmental balance. She noted that trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, thereby reducing global warming and making the air cleaner and healthier to breathe. She added that their roots bind the soil together, which helps to prevent erosion, check desert encroachment and preserve fertile farmlands, a core mandate of ACReSAL in northern Nigeria.
According to her, trees also improve water conservation by enhancing groundwater recharge and reducing flooding, while providing shade that cools the environment and reduces heat-related illnesses, thus creating a healthier learning atmosphere for children. She further stated that economic trees such as mango, cashew, moringa and orange provide food, nutrition and future income for families and schools, while also serving as habitats for birds and other organisms, thereby preserving biodiversity and maintaining ecological balance.
Barr. Jatto stressed that beyond the environmental benefits, a green school environment has been proven to reduce stress, improve concentration and enhance academic performance, while the act of nurturing a tree from seedling to maturity teaches children patience, responsibility, ownership and service to community, values that are essential for building responsible citizenship.
“When tree planting becomes a culture in secondary schools, we will no longer need to enforce environmental protection, the children themselves will become its protectors,” she added.
Beyond environmental greening, the programme also addresses educational and health needs. The writing materials are aimed at easing the burden on parents and encouraging school retention, while the reusable sanitary pads, which are washable and usable for up to twelve months, are aimed at tackling menstrual hygiene challenges that often keep adolescent girls out of school.
“This is a holistic approach to a friendly and healthy environment. We are planting trees for a healthy environment, we are planting knowledge with books for a healthy mind, and we are planting dignity with reusable pads for a healthy girl-child,” she stated.
Under her leadership as Kogi ACReSAL Coordinator, the state has witnessed increased community engagement in climate resilience, landscape restoration and sustainable livelihoods across the nineteen northern states intervention zone.
Principals and students of the benefiting schools across the five Local Government Areas of Kogi Central, Adavi, Ajaokuta, Okehi, Okene and Ogori-Magongo, lauded Barr. Jatto for her consistency, describing her as a role model who uses personal resources and platforms to complement government efforts.
The event climaxed with symbolic tree planting by Barr. Jatto, teachers, students and GGPI volunteers, alongside the inauguration of Green Clubs in the schools to ensure sustainability.
Observers noted that the initiative stands out as a world-class model of personal leadership, where a private citizen’s passion, exemplified by GGPI, aligns with a global project like ACReSAL to deliver environmental, educational and health impact in one sweep.