UNIZIK & Teva Foods Partner for Tree Planting, Climate Action to Mark 2026 International Day

The Centre for Agripreneur and Cooperative Research Practice (CACORP), Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, in collaboration with Teva Foods, Jos, Plateau State, on Tuesday, 23rd June 2026, flagged off a tree planting exercise to commemorate the 2026 International Day.

With the theme, “Planting Trees for Posterity and Climate Action”, the programme was held at the Board Room of the Faculty of Management Sciences, UNIZIK.

Declaring the event open, the UNIZIK Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ugochukwu Bond Stanley Anyaehie, urged Nigerians to embrace farming to boost food production, afforestation, job creation and ecosystem protection. 

Represented by the former ASUU-UNIZIK Chairperson, Engr. Prof. Stephen Ufoaroh, the Vice-Chancellor commended CACORP for promoting agricultural values. Prof. Anyaehie assured the Centre of the current administration’s support and pledged to strengthen the university’s collaboration with Teva Foods.

In her welcome address, the Director of CACORP, Dr. Nma Okechukwu Okoroji, said the Centre’s vision is to be a world-class hub for agripreneurship and cooperative development. The scholar noted that CACORP drives sustainable livelihoods, food security, and rural transformation in Nigeria and Africa through research, training, and enterprise development.

Dr. Okoroji listed CACORP’s achievements, including training over 2,500 students, youths, and farmers on cooperative management, agripreneurship, climate-smart agriculture and value chain development. She also cited progress in cooperative strengthening, research and demonstration farms, partnerships, and policy advocacy.

Quoting Genesis 2:15, she described tree planting as “divine” and encouraged investment in agriculture for food security and economic growth. The CACORP Director also appreciated Teva Foods and the VC for their support.

The Dean, Faculty of Management Sciences, Prof. Francis Nwankwo, said the tree planting flag-off reflects UNIZIK’s commitment to food security, agricultural innovation, and national development. The Dean of the Faculty of Management Sciences commended Dr. Okoroji for her leadership in advancing agripreneurship and cooperative development.

The Anambra State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Ben Odoemena, described the theme as timely. Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Chinyere Nwabachili, he said tree planting and climate action must align with sustainable agribusiness. He added that the Ministry is pursuing private sector engagement, irrigation-led production, and competitive value chains under the state’s industrialisation agenda.

Guest Lecturer and Co-Founder/CEO of Teva Foods, Chima Christian, said Nigeria has 10.9 billion trees, which play a key role in regulating carbon emissions. He lamented the underutilisation of the resource, which contributes to food waste and urged Nigerians to acquire agricultural skills to boost food production and revenue.

In their goodwill messages, the State Chairman of NACOPPMAN, Hon. Emily Uzor, advocated coconut planting for revenue and afforestation. Rev. Elvis Okolie stressed skills development as the most valuable form of wealth creation. Mrs. Angela Uche-Echieh, State Coordinator of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, called for massive investment in agriculture for socio-economic development. 

Also speaking, the Anambra State Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, High Chief Arthur Mbuba, said the collaboration with UNIZIK had been strengthened and assured of more federal initiatives to promote agriculture.

High points of the ceremony was the official tree planting by the Vice-Chancellor. Coconut seedlings from CACORP were also distributed to guests, and a memorabilia was presented to the Teva Foods CEO for his leadership in agripreneurship, youth empowerment, and climate action.

The successful flag-off concluded with an official tree-planting ceremony, the distribution of coconut seedlings to guests, and a special award presentation to Teva Foods for their commitment to youth empowerment and climate action.