ESUT Set to Witness Historic Tree Planting Challenge
The Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) will play host to a Guinness World Record competition on June 5, 2025, focusing on the “most trees planted by an individual in 24 hours.” Competitor Michael Odenigbo aims to plant 27,000 moringa trees within this timeframe, surpassing the current record held by Canadian environmentalist Antoine Moses, who planted 23,000 trees during the competition in 2021.
Odenigbo emphasized that the competition is necessary to create awareness about the importance of tree planting. “When we plant more trees, we are helping to save the planet, but when we cut trees without planting even more than those we have cut, we are helping to destroy the planet,” he said.
He further explained that the choice of moringa trees was based on their exceptional ability to absorb carbon compared to other species. Beyond promoting environmental friendliness, moringa trees offer economic benefits, which could positively impact the economy of Enugu State.
Guinness Delegation Highlights ESUT’s Global Potential
During a courtesy call to ESUT Management, the leader of the Guinness World Record delegation, Hon. Williams Amuka, stated that four hectares of land would be required for the competition. Hon. Amuka, who represents Igbo-Etiti West Constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly, added that the event would place ESUT on the global map.
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of ESUT, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, noted that the University had already inaugurated a committee on Green Energy and Environment to promote eco-friendliness within the institution. He stated that the competition aligns with the University’s efforts to combat the negative effects of ozone depletion.
Professor Okolie announced that ESUT would not only provide the four hectares of land for the competition but also allocate a portion of its farm for the domestication of the moringa nursery. Expressing pride, he highlighted the growing competitiveness of Africans in Guinness World Record contests, emphasizing ESUT’s role in fostering such achievements.
This initiative underscores the commitment of ESUT to environmental sustainability and global recognition. By hosting the competition and supporting efforts like Michael Odenigbo’s, the University is taking significant strides toward combating climate change and promoting green initiatives.
