The National Construction Industry Council (NCIC) conducted a tree planting exercise on 17th February 2025 in Ntcheu District under the national theme for the year: ‘Restore Forests and Land to Secure Food Production’. The event took place at Tchauya Primary School in GVH Tchauya and was graced by NCIC Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Gerald Khonje, as the Guest of Honour.
The exercise began with a demonstration by a Forestry Officer, who provided guidance on proper tree planting techniques. Following the demonstration, Engineer Khonje led the planting session by planting the first tree, followed by GVH Tchauya and NCIC’s Directors of Finance, Regulatory and Enforcement, Training and Research; and the school’s Head Teacher. Thereafter, all invited guests and learners followed suit. The event was colored by performances from the students focusing on planting and conserving trees.
Speaking at the event, the District Forestry Officer expressed gratitude to NCIC for supporting the initiative by providing 8,000 trees which will help them meet their target as they lacked sufficient resources to meet their goal, noting that the intervention by NCIC was timely.
Tchauya Primary School Head Teacher also extended his appreciation to NCIC for the exercise and assured that the newly planted trees would contribute to creating a safe and conducive learning environment for students. He also remarked that the event would remain memorable and serve as motivation for students. GVH Tchauya also commended NCIC for the dedication and pointed out that the trees will help restore the environment and will help in restoring food production in the area.
In his remarks, Engineer Khonje expressed his gratitude to the Ntcheu District Council, the local community and all participants for their involvement in the event. He emphasized the crucial role trees play in daily life and national development including in construction. He urged everyone to take responsibility for nurturing the newly planted trees. The CEO also took the opportunity to inspire students, particularly young girls, by encouraging them to pursue careers in the construction industry. He stressed that the industry is not exclusively for men and that women have an equal role to play.
NCIC has contributed a total of 25,000 seedlings in this planting seasons through Ntcheu, Mwanza and Nkhatabay districts as part of the council’s commitment to environmental conservation and sustainable development.