The Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), under the leadership of its National Coordinator, Chief Sheriff Mulade, has once again reiterated the importance of trees to environmental sustainability as the nongovernmental organization embarked on a tree planting campaign initiative as part of the activities marking the annual World Environment Day (WED) on Friday, June 5, 2026.

Personnel of CEPEJ in marking the 2026 edition of the globally celebrated WED embarked on visits to Ewein Primary School, Ogbe-Ijoh Grammar School, and the Ogbe-Ijoh Primary Health Care Center, all in Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, the headquarters of Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, where they planted trees, accompanied by community stakeholders.

Among CEPEJ personnel that embarked on the tree planting campaign are the Senior Programme Manager, Mr. Samuel Ideh; the Administrative Manager, Madam Tina Agidi; Information and Communications Technology officer, Mr. Olasupo Olatoke.

Also present are Amb. Victor Akemotubo, Youth President of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom; Mrs. Florence Fufeyin, Vice Principal of Ogbe-Ijoh Grammar School, who represented the Principal, Mrs. Caroline Obede; and Erediegha Precious, a resident of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom and ambassador of CEPEJ.

"Today is World Environment Day and it is our culture that we plant trees every year," said Mr. Ideh, during a chat with PENGlobal Community.

"You know, the last two years, we were at the Obodo community to plant trees. Last year, we were at Udu Local Government Secretariat to also plant the same trees. Today, we are marking the World Environment Day at the Ogbe-Ijoh community and we pick strategic places like the primary school, the secondary school and the health center to plant the trees," he added.

The CEPEJ Programmes Manager also shared insights on why the organisation has consistently embarked on the exercise, when he explained that, "The essence of we doing this is to provide sustainable environment; and the way to provide sustainable environment is to plant trees because trees give life to humans, they bring Oxygen to humans. Without trees, I think we cannot sustain the environment.

"That is why we are using today to mark the World Environment Day by planting trees in these various strategic places in Ogbe-Ijoh community," he explained.

Mr Ideh called on community members to avoid rampant tree felling which leads to deforestation, warning that, "it destroys a lot of things. It brings pollution and all that, and that's where we sensitize the community," and then warned, “When you cut down trees, you have to think of planting other ones.”

Also adding her voice to the importance of trees to environmental sustainability, Erediegha Precious, while listing other benefits said, "Trees are beneficial to us because, apart from giving us Oxygen (trees take in Carbon Dioxide and give us Oxygen), their leaves are also medicinal; they are herbal herbs that we use to treat ourselves and also they can produce income for women and children that can pluck the fruits when they grow."

The VP, Madam Funfeyin, appreciated the National Coordinator of CEPEJ for sustaining environmental sustainability by embarking on tree planting, noting that the trees serve as a buffer to protecting buildings and roofs during stormy weather.

On his part, youth leader Amb. Akemotubo, said, "I want to thank CEPEJ for planting trees in our kingdom, most especially our leader, Comrade Chief Sheriff Mulade, for giving this opportunity by directing CEPEJ to plant trees in our community. So, we want to thank him and appreciate him for this opportunity given to our community."

The WED, first marked on June 5, 1973,  is observed in more than 143 countries, with a call to protect the natural environment and to take urgent action to end pollution, including plastic (from production to waste) which contributes to climate crisis and environmental degradation. 

The action of CEPEJ, which aligns with the theme for the WED 2026: "Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future", has demonstrated its commitment over the years to not only sustainability, but preservation of the environment, an initiative worth emulating by all.

View photos of the tree planting campaign here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Gqsuat6Ly/

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