Yenagoa, Bayelsa State – The commemoration of World Ozone Day 2025 in Bayelsa State was not just a celebration of environmental milestones but also a forum for bold ideas on how climate action must adapt to local realities. Held on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Onopa, Yenagoa, the event was jointly organized by the National Association of Refrigerator and Air-conditioning Practitioners (NARAP) and the Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment.
The theme for this year’s celebration, “From Science to Global Action,” emphasized the transition from research and policy frameworks to tangible interventions that make a difference in communities. The program drew an impressive array of dignitaries, including senior government officials, academics, NGOs, and professional associations.
Among the high-ranking officials present were the Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei; Commissioner for Education, Hon. Gentle Emelah; Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Ebi Ben Ololo; and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Mr. Korubo Clinton Uncle. Other attendees included several permanent secretaries, members of the academia, women’s organizations, civil society groups, and former Head of Department, Department of Environmental Management at Niger Delta Universty, Dr. Charles Oyibo, former Director of Climate Change, Mr. Ere Wakedei, who now serves at the Ministry of Blue Economy, Dr. Benson Authority of Niger Delta University among others
In his keynote, the Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Ebi Ben Ololo, stressed that tree planting remains at the heart of the state’s climate agenda. He noted that beyond the carbon absorption role of forests, trees serve as natural flood defenses, an issue of increasing urgency in Bayelsa where recurring floods displace thousands each year.
“The Ministry will continue to clamp down on illegal logging to safeguard our environment and protect the lives of Bayelsans,” Ololo affirmed.
Similarly, Prof. Ayawei underscored the importance of innovation, urging academia and researchers present to embrace artificial intelligence (AI), data science, and the Internet of Things (IoT) to predict floods and other climate-related disasters. “Africa cannot afford to remain behind in the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” he cautioned.
Former Head of the Department of Environmental Management at Niger Delta University, Dr. Charles Oyibo, added a scientific dimension to the discussions. “We need to know how many trees are required, what species are most effective, and their carbon assimilation capacities. Without research-backed planning, we risk planting blindly,” Oyibo said.
In his contribution, Dr. Ebikapade Amasuomo, a lecturer at Niger Delta University commend the Ministry of Environment for promoting tree planting, however, he challenged policymakers to rethink the conventional approach, urging them to design tree-planting programs that reflect Africa’s socio-economic context.
“Tree planting is essential, but it cannot be a copy-and-paste effort from Europe or other developed countries.” “In Nigeria and across Africa, poverty and hunger remain pressing issues. If we must plant trees, let them be trees that directly benefit the people. Planting food-bearing trees such as mango, cashew etc allows us to combat climate change while also tackling food insecurity.”
He argued that initiatives that ignore local realities risk alienating communities who often view conservation efforts as abstract or disconnected from their immediate needs. “When people see that the environment can also feed them, they will protect it,” he added. Also read
His call for food-bearing tree planting aligns with the growing push for climate-smart agriculture and agroforestry, which combine environmental protection with livelihood support.
Across Africa, similar models have been tested with success. For instance, in Kenya, the Green Belt Movement—pioneered by the late Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai—demonstrated how community-driven tree planting could improve food supply, empower women, and restore degraded ecosystems. In West Africa, cashew and shea trees are increasingly promoted not only for their ecological benefits but also for their economic value in global markets.
Dr. Amasuomo’s argument suggests that Bayelsa State could adapt such models to its unique ecosystem, turning environmental stewardship into a win-win strategy for both people and the planet.
The 2025 World Ozone Day commemoration in Bayelsa left participants with a renewed sense of purpose. While speakers agreed on the urgency of protecting forests and halting illegal logging, Dr. Amasuomo’s perspective broadened the conversation by linking climate action with food security and poverty alleviation.
As Bayelsa and other Nigerian states grapple with rising floods, deforestation, and the pressures of climate change, the call for food-bearing tree planting provides a roadmap for more inclusive environmental action. By combining scientific research, innovative technology, and socio-economic sensitivity, the state has an opportunity to pioneer a model of tree planting that speaks not only to the ozone layer but also to the stomachs of its people.
In the words of Ebikapade Amasuomo: “Climate change is global, but solutions must be local. Planting trees that feed people is one way we can make environmental protection a shared responsibility.”
