Chief Medical Examiner Plants Trees at Alma Mater, Advocates for Stronger Environmental Protection in Schools

On Monday, June 1, 2026, Chief Medical Examiner Dr Simon Owizz Koroma joined students and environmental advocates to plant 10 non-fruit-bearing trees at his alma mater, the West African Methodist Collegiate Secondary School (WAMCOL), in Freetown, in honour of World Environment Day. The tree-planting event, organised in collaboration with the Media Initiative for Climate Change and the Environment (MICCE), is one of a number of events commemorating the global observance on June 5.
Dr Koroma, a proud WAMCOL alumnus and Chief Medical Examiner in the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME), believes that planting trees is both symbolic and practical. “Trees grow and provide oxygen for people. “Man requires oxygen and exhales carbon dioxide, which is beneficial to trees,” he said, emphasising the reciprocal relationship between humans and vegetation and emphasising that tree planting is a frontline response to climate challenges.
Martha Kargbo, Director of MICCE’s Media Initiatives for Climate Change and the Environment, stated that school tree planting initiatives are an important part of the organisation’s World Environment Day programming. “Planting trees in schools raises awareness among students about environmental conservation and the critical role that trees play in protecting the planet from climate change and environmental degradation,” Kargbo stated. She urged international and local non-governmental organisations to fund projects that involve young people in environmental stewardship.
At the ceremony, Dr Koroma thanked MICCE for inviting him to contribute to environmental preservation at his former school. He dedicated the newly planted trees at the heart of the junior school to the teachers who shaped and inspired him, describing the dedication as a tribute to past mentors who “made me who I am now.”
Dr Koroma took advantage of the opportunity to urge everyone to take responsibility for environmental protection. He urged citizens to stop indiscriminate tree felling and encouraged communities to replace any trees that had been cut down. “Tree planting remains one of the most effective ways to combat climate change, improve air quality, and protect biodiversity,” he added.
The initiative was warmly welcomed by school leaders. The Senior Principal of the Senior Secondary School and Mrs Miranda Cole, Principal of the Junior Secondary School, congratulated and thanked Dr Koroma for returning to his former school through the environmental gesture. They characterised the exercise as a “significant step in the right direction,” emphasising that it provides students with a valuable, hands-on lesson in environmental stewardship and sustainability.
School officials encouraged students to take ownership of the trees, care for them, and serve as environmental ambassadors in their communities. Representatives from MICCE emphasised that school-based efforts can catalyse broader community action when supported by policy, funding, and partnerships.
The WAMCOL event is part of a larger push in Sierra Leone to incorporate environmental education into school curricula and foster grassroots activities that promote resilience to climate impacts. Organisers say they hope the symbolic planting inspires similar initiatives in other Freetown schools and beyond.