The conversation about deforestation and its implication on the climate has been on for decades. It is estimated that the world has lost 3 trillion trees to deforestation and needs 1 trillion trees for climate restoration. While the awareness drive continues, Nigeria’s leading beverage bottling business, Seven-Up Bottling Company (SBC), has called on Nigerians to stop the talk and start planting the trees.
In celebration of this year’s World Environment Day, SBC flagged off its “One Staff One Tree” initiative, to plant 2,500 trees across various Nigerian cities where the company’s plants are located. The initiative was flagged off in partnership with the Lekki Estates Residents & Stakeholders Association (LERSA), and Eco-Restoration Foundation (ERF), along the Lekki – Epe expressway, Lagos.
At the flag off ceremony held on the Lekki Peninsula corridor in Lagos, on Wednesday, SBC donated 1000 trees to the ambitious 5 million trees project of LERSA, aimed at combating environmental threats and promoting sustainable development in the coastal area.
The fun-packed event was a convergence of green environment stakeholders who were visibly excited to be part of the “Generation Restoration” group. Lovelyn Okoye, Sustainability Manager, Seven-Up Bottling Company(SBC); Odozimba Uche Iheakanwa, Chairman of Power Committee, Lekki Estates Residents & Stakeholders Association, (LERSA); Nkemdirim Agboti, Head, Legal & Corporate Affairs, SBC; Hon. Ademola Balogun, Representative of Eti-OSA Local Government; Omoyeni Balogun, Representative of Lagos State Ministry of Environment; Ziad Maalouf, Managing Director, SBC; Alhaji Sulyman Bello, President of LERSA; and Norden Thurston, Chief Marketing Officer, SBC, were all present to witness what was the largest donation to the Lekki Million Trees project thus far.
Saving The Earth To Save Us: Ziad in his remarks emphasised the importance of sustainable development to climate restoration and SBC’s business policies. He noted that the company is fully committed to making a difference while calling on other organisations to get actively involved. “If we don’t all make an effort, we will be leaving a disaster for our children. One person can make a difference. We are on a 5 million tree journey and with more organisations collaborating on this, it will be a reality,” he said.
SBC’s Head, Legal & Corporate Affairs, Seven-Up Bottling Company, Nkemdirim Agboti, tasked Nigerians to be more intentional about tree planting and nurturing. She called on individuals to donate trees and plant one on behalf of their children.
SBC Trees On Tracker: Eco-Restoration Foundation (ERF) also announced that each tree planted under the One Staff One Tree initiative will be added to the existing tracker to monitor their growth and contribution to neutralising the carbon footprint.
Commendation For SBC: All stakeholders in attendance commended Seven Up Bottling Company for supporting zero carbon projects and leading the #StopTalkingStartPlanting campaign. The representatives of ERF applauded the company for making all staff environmentally responsible with the One Staff One Tree initiative, while the LERSA President expressed his gratitude to the company for the notable contribution. “We are excited to partner with SBC as it is a critical step towards safeguarding our environment and promoting sustainable development,” he said.
At the climax of the event, everyone in attendance was given a responsibility to plant a tree, and encouraged to extend the act to their communities. They all left with the insight that the environment will protect itself if we fail to get active, and might get rid of us in doing so. Hence the need to see our land as our future and life.
