Enefiok Ekong
The Family Empowerment and Youth Re-Orientation Path – Initiative FEYREP, the pet project of the wife of the immediate past Governor of Akwa Ibom State His Excellency Dr Mrs Martha Udom Emmanuel has celebrated eight Anniversary Wednesday with an introduction of tree planting exercise .
Speaking at the event which took place at Afaha Atai village along Clement Isong Avenue, Uyo
Dr Emmanuel remarked that the aim of the tree planting exercise was to Mitigate Climate Change in our environment .
She stated that the choice of the venue was because as bare land , the environment was proned to destruction on stormy days . adding that her NGO will collaborates with global communities and international organizations to Mitigate the challenges of climate change in Akwa Ibom State
She reiterated that the impact of climate change has affected a lot of economic activities, crop production as well as human health and cited soil degradation and deforestation has the root causes of Climate change.
“There is no wind break in our environment anymore due to frequent cutting down of trees. We should join the Global community in the fight against indiscriminate cutting of tree, while carrying out sensitizing on the importance of tree planting exercise”. She stated
In their separate goodwill massages , the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture Mrs Offiong Offor, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Brand Management and Marketing Mr Raphael Edem and the village head of Afaha Atai Chief Etim Edem Akpan thanked her Excellency Dr Mrs Martha Udom Emmanuel for Initiating the tree planting exercise in Akwa Ibom.
While emphasizing that the entire world is battling to cushion the effect of green house emission. They explained that tree planting will beautify the environment,and generate revenue for the state . They promised to partner with FEYREP to ensure the success of the exercise.

Responding ,the Chairman of FEYREP Dr Mrs Idoreyin Iniabasi Ekamen thanked the people for coming out to withnessed the exercise and urge Akwa Ibom people should rise to the challenge of mitigating climate change and also look at having a forest reserve which will serve as tourist site for Akwa Ibom State.