NTB Governor Urges Children in Sumbawa to Preserve the Environment
Mataram (ANTARA) - West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Governor Lalu Muhamad Iqbal urged children in Lunyuk subdistrict, Sumbawa regency, to love the environment, protect forests, and dare to dream for their future.
“If the environment is not protected, it will be damaged. If damaged, we will all feel the impact,” said Governor Lalu Muhamad Iqbal in front of the children after inspecting the progress of the Lenangguar-Lunyuk road section at Masjid Jami Al-Ihsan, Padasuka village, Sumbawa, according to information from Mataram on Sunday.
The governor delivered this call to preserve the environment by telling a fairy tale “Kiara the Forest Guardian” to dozens of children at Masjid Jami Al-Ihsan, Padasuka village.
The children appeared enthusiastic while listening to the interactive story delivered directly by the NTB Governor. The governor described the struggle of a child protecting the Lunyuk forest from damage due to illegal logging.
He also reminded them of the importance of protecting wildlife and coastal ecosystems, including turtles and tortoises that live in the beach areas around Lunyuk. “Don’t take all their eggs and don’t disturb them. They also need a place to live just like us,” he messaged.
On that occasion, the NTB Governor recalled the condition of Lunyuk when he first visited it in the early 1990s, which was still filled with dense forests and wild animals.
“In the past, the entire journey here was all green. Therefore, now it is our collective task to keep the environment sustainable,” he said.
Not only talking about the environment, the NTB Governor encouraged the children to have a spirit of learning and courage to achieve their aspirations. He directly dialogued with several students who expressed their dreams of becoming teachers, athletes, and regional leaders.
In the dialogue, a student from SMP Islam Terpadu Hamzanwadi Lunyuk, Naura Fadila, asked about the equality of education between public and private schools. In response, the governor affirmed that all children have equal rights and opportunities to advance and excel.
According to him, various government programmes such as Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) and School Revitalisation are intended for all students without distinguishing school status.
“Whether public or private, they all must receive the same attention. The important thing is that NTB children can grow healthy, intelligent, and have a good future,” he stressed.