NCWS Mobilises Women, Communities For Tree Planting In Adamawa
By TALATU MAIWADA
THE National President of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), Mrs. Edna Azura, has reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to climate change mitigation through tree planting and environmental initiatives.
She said the programmes are being implemented in communities across Adamawa State to promote environmental sustainability and support women’s empowerment.
A report stated that the initiative in Mayo Belwa is part of the Council’s “Green Women Initiative,” following earlier campaigns in Yola North and Hong Local Government Areas.
Speaking in an interview on Sunday, Azura said the programme aligned with Nigeria’s national climate objectives and the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Initiative.
She said the goal was to promote environmental sustainability while empowering women across the state.
“Our goal is simple: we don’t want to see bare land anymore. We want every place to be green,” Azura said.
Supported by the International Council of Women (ICW), Azura said NCWS inaugurated a tree planting and smart agriculture programme to build community resilience against climate change.
She said hundreds of trees were planted in Mayo Belwa, adding that the initiative also aimed to promote economic empowerment and food security for women.
“These trees will provide long-term benefits, women can generate income from them, support their families, and contribute to local food systems,” she said.
Azura noted that the broader campaign included backyard gardening and organic composting to boost soil fertility and reduce dependence on chemical fertilisers.
“To ensure sustainability, the council engaged local stakeholders including traditional rulers, farmers, and women’s groups from the outset.
“We gave each household a number of trees to plant and care for.
“The use of woven baskets as guards for young trees shows strong community commitment,” she added.
Azura said a monitoring and evaluation framework was in place, from ward to national levels, to track the programme’s progress.
She expressed optimism about Mayo Belwa’s success, citing its rich agricultural potential and existing commercial fruit farms like Nyako Farms.
“We’re simply building on what already exists,” she said, adding that the initiative would be extended to Madagali in the northern senatorial district as part of efforts to cover all three senatorial zones in Adamawa.
(NAN)
