Startese Initiative

Climate change has become an issue in today's world. Human activities have caused more harm than good to the ecosystem. Trees are cut down without replacement. Industries emit toxic gases such as carbon (iv) oxide in the atmosphere. This has caused greater changes in the atmospheric temperature which have negative impacts on both human health and the environment.

In Makurdi town of Benue State Nigeria, there has been an increasing atmospheric temperature annually. This has caused numerous health challenges in the city. It has also caused climate change which alters the farming durations in the local government.

Startese Initiative is a program that is aimed at having trees planted in every household in makurdi town. As a graduate of Environmental Management and Toxicology, it has always been my dream to mitigate this challenge in a little way I can. Because of the driven motive, I started encouraging households around my neighborhood in 2018 when I was still a student, to at least plant one or two trees in order to serve as a carbon sink to the growing loss of carbon in the ecosystem.

Some houses within the Gyado Villa area of Makurdi town complied, but some didn't and we never gave up. We are still trying to do our best and will continue until the goal is met.

Through the help of MIT Solve, we will be able to hold seminars across different parts of the town and on different days of the week in order to sensitize the populace on the importance of trees in the town. The benefits will not just be enjoyed now but will be benefited by the next generation and if this is continued as a chain, it will be benefited by even 2-4 generations to come.

To conclude our solution, we would like to construct a park where trees, flowers, and waterways will be maintained within Makurdi as a part of the program to mitigate climate change and its effects on humans and the environment. This has always been our plan but financial constraints wouldn't let us.

Startese Initiative through her solution will provide great reduction in climate change and reduces the atmospheric temperature. All the inhabitants of the Makurdi town will benefit from this program as it will provide shades right in their homes where the trees can absorb some of the carbon generated right in their homes.

We are well-positioned to deliver this because it is what we enjoy doing and has been doing it even without support from anyone. Now that MIT solve opted to support us, it will be joyful for us to deliver our little services to the city. we are glad we can make a change and contribute our part to the future of our children.

We know there might be complaints that they don't have the available trees to plant, the Startese team will provide each household with two stands of trees to plant and water this season. the team will monitor the process and present little rewards to some that have actually done well.

Legal and financial barriers are our core challenges in achieving our solution to the problem above. The Startese team will need a legal advisor to provide with the services needed of him and also, the team will need finance to carry out this sensitization program and to be able to obtain the trees required to supply to households for planting. These are the two ways MIT Solve can assist the Initiative team.

Our solution will provide a new improved approach to the problem because, there have been none on such in this town and there has been a need for a change like this long overdue. 

Surely this initiative will make a positive impact in different spheres of this city, the government, individuals, organizations, businesses, etc.

Our impact goals for the next year is to cover at least, half of the makurdi residential areas with trees enough to absorp the carbon produced within those vicinities. In five years, we intend extending our services to Gboko town, Otukpo town and other major towns within the state and beyond. 

We aim at achieving sustainable cities and communities and from the progress so far, the town is complying with the idea. few houses are been planting and watering trees within the compounds. 

Our solution will have both immediate impact and long term impact on the target population. trees last not less than ten years and within these years, they will serve different purposes. they will save as shades that reduces the amount of heat in the compound, they will serve as carbon sink, trees such as mangos can serve as food for the residents people.

Carbon sequestration will be used. This is a technology where carbon is removed from the atmosphere and stored in trees, soil or grasses. Apps will be used to monitor the rate of reduction in atmospheric temperature over time as the trees keep growing. 

Free communication among group members is highly maintained and equal access and rights to all opportunities are maintained among each member of the team. there is no gender inequality, race, age or tribe or any of sort discrimination. 

We supply flowers and young growing trees to people building parks, homes, government contractors, etc. We simply advertise our services and tell them the importance of having a tree or flower in their compound.

We intend to register our Initiative with the Corporate Affairs Commission to be able to obtain grants, donations from prominent politicians, and other interested non-governmental organizations. Those that would want to support our dream of sustaining the communities and the environment

So far, there has been no success generating income from another source. Only donations from the team members and other friends of the team which has been nothing but little.