By Davida Spaine-Solomon
Freetown, 29th June, 2026 — Former students of Dr. Ibrahim Bangura on Saturday organized an environmental awareness walk and tree-planting exercise aimed at promoting afforestation and raising awareness about climate change and environmental conservation in Sierra Leone.
The initiative, organized by the Committee of Former Students of Dr. Ibrahim Bangura, who is also an aspiring flag bearer of the All People’s Congress (APC), brought together supporters, environmental advocates, and community members for a walk from Regent Car Park to the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, where hundreds of tree seedlings were planted.
The event formed part of efforts to encourage environmental stewardship while reinforcing the need to address increasing deforestation, which participants said has contributed to changing weather patterns and the growing impacts of climate change across the country.
Speaking during the event, a committee member said the walk reflected the values instilled by Dr. Bangura during his years as a lecturer.
“We are all former students of Dr. Ibrahim Bangura, and one thing he consistently taught us was the importance of protecting the environment,” he said. “This tree-planting exercise is our contribution to promoting afforestation and combating the effects of deforestation, which continues to threaten Sierra Leone’s environment. We are putting into practice the lessons and values he shared with us in the classroom.”
He noted that Dr. Bangura had long championed climate and environmental issues through his teaching, inspiring many of his former students to remain committed to environmental responsibility long after leaving university.
Founder and Executive Director of the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Bala Amarasekaran, commended the initiative, describing it as an encouraging sign that young people are embracing environmental conservation.
Having dedicated more than three decades to protecting the sanctuary, Amarasekaran said community-led initiatives such as the walk demonstrate that awareness campaigns are making a meaningful impact.
He urged participants to ensure that all 800 tree seedlings earmarked for the exercise were planted, adding that every tree contributes to restoring Sierra Leone’s forest cover.
According to him, Tacugama planted more than 103,000 trees last year and has already planted over 7,000 trees this year. He expressed appreciation to the organizers for partnering with the sanctuary and encouraging young people to take practical action in protecting the country’s natural environment.
In his remarks, Dr. Ibrahim Bangura thanked his former students for organizing the initiative in his honour, saying he was deeply encouraged to see that the lessons he taught years ago continue to influence their actions.
He said one of the greatest rewards of being an educator is witnessing students transform classroom knowledge into meaningful action that benefits society.
Dr. Bangura recalled beginning his teaching career in his mid-twenties and expressed pride in seeing many of his former students remain committed to the values they learned under his mentorship.
He noted that the environmental walk and tree-planting exercise resonated strongly with one of the courses he taught—International Politics of the Environment—which emphasized the importance of sustainable environmental governance and collective action against climate change.
Reflecting on the support he has received since launching the DIB Movement, Dr. Bangura said former students have remained among its strongest supporters, demonstrating a shared commitment to community service and national development.
He added that initiatives such as the environmental walk not only promote environmental protection but also inspire citizens, particularly young people, to become active participants in safeguarding Sierra Leone’s future.
The programme also featured the unveiling of a commemorative plaque in honour of all participants, followed by an interactive meet-and-greet session with Dr. Bangura.
Participants described the event as both educational and inspiring, saying it provided an opportunity to contribute directly to environmental conservation while reconnecting with a lecturer whose teachings continue to shape their lives. Many expressed hope that similar initiatives would be sustained to encourage greater public participation in protecting Sierra Leone’s forests and natural resources.
