Rotary’s commitment to community service and environmental sustainability came to bear recently when Rotary Club of Lekki Phase 1 partnered with Friendship Neighbourhood Association of Oniru Estate, Lagos, to plant 250 coconut trees in the community.
  
This collaboration aims to rejuvenate the environment through a tree planting project that will not only enhance the aesthetics of the area but also promote sustainability and community spirit.
   
Excited residents gathered at Oniru Estate, armed with spades, seedlings, and an unwavering commitment to green their surroundings. The event kicked off with an advocacy session for community members about the importance of trees in urban areas.
   
Renowned actress, Kate Henshaw, was among the group of enthusiastic residents who participated in the tree planting exercise. As the first tree was planted by the President of the Rotary Club of Lekki Phase 1, Rotarian Sina Elusakin, the Co-founder of One Million Tree Initiative, Josfyn Uba, who was part of the exercise, introduced a unique approach to it by praying on the cocoa nut seedling for positive energy and healthy growth.
   
Head of the neighbourhood, Mr. Sodienye Willie Pepple, expressed gratitude to the club for initiating the exercise while pledging the community’s resolve to nurture and take care of the cocoa nut trees.

“Given the current heat wave, there is no doubt that the effect of climate change is real. And we must do everything possible to mitigate the crisis.  And there is no other way for us to achieve a healthier planet but to plant trees, especially in urban areas because of the high rate of pollution. This project is about more than just planting trees; it’s about planting hope and togetherness within the community,” he said.
  
Speaking on the exercise, Elusakin emphasised that the tree-planting effort aims to spark discussions about environmental and climate science while also promoting action.
  
He noted that it is not just about planting trees for aesthetic purposes, but also encouraging the people to nurture and take care of them to achieve sustainability, adding that if that is done, in a matter of time, the whole estate will turn to greener spaces.

“This is our legacy in commitment to our commitment to community service and environmental sustainability,” he said.