Hope Aglow Charity Foundation, in collaboration with the United Nations Association of Nigeria (UNA Nigeria) and Brigham University, commemorated World Environment Day 2026 with a nationwide environmental campaign that saw over 500 trees planted and hundreds of students engaged in climate action activities across Lagos, Rivers and the Federal Capital Territory.

The initiative, held under the theme, “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future,” combined tree planting, environmental sanitation, waste reduction advocacy and climate education, culminating in an international webinar featuring experts from Nigeria and abroad.

Speaking during the Lagos outreach at Obele Community High School, Surulere, President of UNA Nigeria, Prof. Remi Olutimo, described trees as critical to combating environmental challenges confronting the country.

“Trees are Nigeria’s first line of defense against erosion, heat stress and air pollution,” he said, urging students to become custodians of the environment rather than mere consumers.

Students were educated on the impact of deforestation on flooding and rising temperatures in Lagos before participating in a “One Student, One Tree” exercise using climate-resilient species.

In Rivers State, the programme at Government Secondary School, Eneka, focused on the realities of climate change in the Niger Delta, including flooding, biodiversity loss and threats to livelihoods.

Chairman of Climate Action and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at UNA Nigeria, Prof. Cynthia Obiorah, who led the session, charged participants to become advocates for environmental sustainability within their communities.

As part of the intervention, students were inaugurated as Environmental Ambassadors, indigenous seedlings were distributed for home planting, while more than 300 reusable water bottles and colour-coded waste bins were donated to discourage plastic pollution and encourage waste segregation.

“Be the solution to plastic pollution. A clean environment is a healthy future. See something, say something, do something,” Prof. Obiorah said.

At Brigham University in Abuja, students embarked on a campus-wide clean-up exercise and planted ornamental and shade trees as part of the “Think Green Before You Act” campaign.

Participants were encouraged to embrace energy conservation, reduce plastic consumption and adopt responsible waste management practices.

The day’s activities climaxed with an international webinar that brought together climate experts, policymakers and technology leaders to discuss pathways for sustainable climate action.

Among the speakers were Prof. Obiorah, Prof. Olutimo, Chairman of the International Artificial Intelligence Association, Amb. Dr. Rui Dai, and Senior Observer at United Nations Climate Change Conferences, Dr. Tong Xu.

The panel session, titled “How Humanity Must Lead Climate Action,” emphasised the need to combine scientific innovation, effective policies and grassroots participation to tackle environmental challenges.

Organisers said the programme directly contributes to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals, including Sustainable Cities and Communities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action, Life Below Water and Life on Land.

Reaffirming their commitment to environmental sustainability, Hope Aglow Charity Foundation and UNA Nigeria stressed that climate action must move beyond annual celebrations to sustained community engagement.

“World Environment Day is not just a celebration; it is a call to duty,” the organisations said, noting that preserving the environment today remains essential to securing a safer and more climate-resilient future for coming generations.