The Wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has launched the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Green Nigeria Challenge — a nationwide competition designed to mobilise households, communities, and states to embrace tree planting and environmental sanitation.
Unveiling the initiative during a quarterly meeting with wives of state governors and RHI coordinators in Abuja, the First Lady said the project, themed “Go Green Today for a Greener Tomorrow,” aims to instill a culture of environmental responsibility across the country.
At the launch, Enugu State was honoured as the Model Green State and presented with the ₦100 million grand prize.
“They earned it. It’s not only about planting trees but also about maintaining environmental cleanliness. If you go to Enugu, you’ll see how clean it is,”, Tinubu said, commending the state government’s proactive efforts in sanitation and environmental renewal”, she added.
Her media aide, Busola Kukoyi, explained that the household category targets 11 northern states most affected by desertification, requiring families to plant at least one tree to qualify.
The community category encourages youth groups, schools, local governments, and NGOs to transform degraded areas into eco-friendly parks and gardens. The state category focuses on large-scale tree planting and environmental restoration, excluding Enugu, which has already been recognised.
Tinubu traced her passion for environmental causes to her time as First Lady of Lagos State, recalling that, “As a biologist, I’ve always loved to keep the environment clean. During my husband’s tenure as Lagos governor, I used to clean clogged drains myself. People must see you lead by example; it makes the message stronger.”
“Every country is cleaning its oceans and waterways because marine life is being destroyed by plastic waste. Through RHI, we are working closely with the Federal Ministry of Environment on similar efforts,” she added.
As part of its long-term strategy, the RHI will collaborate with the Ministry of Environment to establish Environmental Clubs in secondary schools and Environmental Societies in tertiary institutions nationwide, aiming to inspire youth-driven environmental action.
The competition features three categories with a total of ₦170 million in prizes – ₦20 million for the best-performing household, ₦50 million for the best community and ₦100 million for the best state.
About the Author
