With hearts full of gratitude to god almighty, I welcome you all to this event. We are here today to launch the maiden tree planting exercise in the Mayo-Belwa local government area facilitated by the Iliya Yame Kwache Foundation.

Over the years the Iliya Yame Kwache Foundation has conducted tree-planting exercises in his native Michika local government. This year he has graciously extended the campaign to the Lutheran university in Demsa and also to this location, the permanent site of the LCCN Mayo-belwa Diocese secretariat.

The founder of Iliya Yame Kwache Foundation is barrister Iliya Yame Kwache, a very good friend and brother. It is saddening that barrister Iliya Kwache is not here with us today. While he was on his way to Michika last weekend for the 4th tree-planting exercise, he was involved in a motor accident. Right now he has returned to his base in the United Kingdom for proper medical care. Despite his health condition and absence, he has ensured that this program is held as scheduled. We pray and wish him a speedy recovery.

Today Mother Earth is faced with many existential challenges:

* climate change that is threatening the survival of many regions of the world is mostly man-made.

* We build factories and operate equipment that contributes carbon emissions in volumes into the atmosphere without thought of the damage that is being caused to the environment.

* We cut down trees wantonly without provision for replanting, laying bare the earth’s surface with the attendant challenges of erosion and desertification.

* we pollute the earth by producing and using plastic materials and strewing them randomly all over the place without thoughts of recycling these wastes as is obtainable in other climes.

* we even produce and use chemicals in the form of herbicides such as the popular Roundup herbicide, which poisons plants, the earth’s surface, and underground water and is a confirmed cause of cancer.

* we can go on land on!

We need to proactively take measures to redress these deteriorating environmental issues in the interest of our communities and mankind. The Iliya Yame Kwache Foundation has taken the lead in changing not only the Michika landscape but the Adamawa environment as a whole. Last Saturday it was Michika. Yesterday it was Demsa. Today it is Mayo-Belwa. We call on the Adamawa state government to support this laudable initiative and collaborate with the Iliya Yame Kwache Foundation to take this annual tree-planting campaign across the entire state.

We can win the war against climate change, most especially desertification and erosion through regular tree planting. Israel and the united arab emirates have proven that man has the capacity to turn the desert into a lush green environment.

At this point, I would like to sincerely appreciate the Iliya Yame Kwache Foundation and the chairman, Barr. Iliya Yame Kwache for extending the tree planting exercise to Mayo-Belwa. We hope that this partnership will continue in years to come and hope as well that this will be extended to cover the entire state. I welcome. Everybody who has found time to attend this tree planting exercise is held at the LCCN Mayo-belwa diocese secretariat permanent site. I pray for god to grant all of you safe passage as you return to your various homes at the end of the exercise.

God bless you all and thank you for your attention.