Organisation partners Kwara govt to launch organic charcoal, plant 160,000 trees

A group of young investors, under the Abral Development Initiative (ADI) and in collaboration with the Kwara State Government, has launched an innovative organic charcoal briquette made from 100% organic raw materials.

This initiative aims to provide an environmentally sustainable alternative to traditional charcoal.

The launch of the Universal Climate Initiative (UCI) took place in Ijagbo, Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State, with Opeyemi Alao, the Chairman of ADI, leading the event.

The initiative also includes a significant tree-planting campaign, with plans to plant 160,000 trees across all 16 local government areas in the state.

The eco-friendly briquette, named “Eedu Ramoni,” is made from agricultural waste products such as orange peels, banana peels, corn husks, rice husks, and other biodegradable materials.

Also emphasized that this product serves as a cleaner, more sustainable alternative to traditional charcoal, which often involves cutting down trees.

Alao explained that trees are essential for the environment, helping to purify air, shelter wildlife, and combat climate change by absorbing harmful carbon dioxide.

Planting trees, therefore, plays a crucial role in safeguarding the planet and promoting human well-being.

The project also includes training programs in collaboration with technical consultants to teach individuals how to produce the briquette.

This aspect of the initiative empowers people to generate income while contributing to environmental conservation. Additionally, “Eedu Ramoni” provides economic empowerment, particularly for youth and women in rural communities, by creating job opportunities and reducing household energy costs.

Alao also highlighted that the initiative supports local agriculture, with raw materials sourced from agricultural waste.

This not only solves waste management issues but also promotes a circular economy, benefiting local farmers who can supply the materials for briquette production.

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Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, represented by the Commissioner for Environment, Hajia Nafusat Buge, commended the initiative, noting its potential for positive environmental impact and community empowerment.

The initiative also aligns with the introduction of energy-saving stoves and support for locally produced components.

Shamsudeen Aregbe, the State Project Coordinator for the ACReASAL program, also spoke at the event.

He noted that the tree-planting initiative is part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, aimed at reclaiming one million hectares of land across the northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

In Kwara State, 35,000 hectares are targeted for reclamation, with a five-hectare nursery established in Ijagbo for the tree-planting project. Aregbe emphasized the importance of preventing land degradation and recovering already degraded lands.