In a bid to foster environmental awareness and preservation among young children, the Regional Centre for Expertise (RCE) Minna recently concluded its third cohort of the Green Fingers Programme (GFP).
The GFP is designed to educate children aged 4–10 about the causes and consequences of environmental degradation due to human activities and how they can contribute to mitigating these effects.
At the closing ceremony of the 2024 edition, Dr. Francis Gana, the Chairman of the occasion and a former Rector of Niger State Polytechnic, Zungeru, emphasised the importance of the program. He highlighted that the children were trained in tree planting and encouraged to establish their own gardens as a means of combating climate change.
Dr. Gana urged parents to support their children in applying the knowledge they gained, thereby contributing to the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Green Economy vision of the current administration.
Hon. Maurice Bello Magaji, the state commissioner for land and survey and special guest at the event, noted the critical state of the environment due to poor management. He praised the initiative for educating children on environmental appreciation, which he believes is a step towards a brighter future with better environmental practices. He stressed that addressing climate change requires collective effort.
Dr. Abdul Hussaini, the Coordinator of RCE Minna, shared that since its recognition in 2011, RCE Minna has collaborated with various NGOs to promote sustainability. He explained that the main objective of the GFP is to raise awareness about environmental sustainability through tree planting and to instill a culture of environmental responsibility in children. The program also aims to support the Africa 2063 Agenda by introducing its basic aspirations to the children, who are expected to be key players by 2063.
Miss Martha Ogar, the chief tutor of the GFP, expressed her passion for teaching children and instilling in them the best environmental practices.
The 2024 GFP, an environmental summer school for children, was organised in loving memory of Arch. Hassana Gambo, the visionary behind the program, who passed away in March this year. The event featured presentations of quotes by the late Arch. Hassana Gambo, tree planting by the children, and visits to the Aisha Lemu Conservatory and Children's Park at the Three Arms Zone area.