The Customs Officers Wives Association (COWA) of the Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘C’ Owerri has joined the nationwide Green Border Initiative tree planting campaign, tagged “Plant 1000 Trees in 1 Hour.”
 
This was initiated by the National President of COWA, Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi, with the aim of educating and enlightening the public—especially students—on the dangers of global warming and environmental degradation.
  
The awareness campaign took centre stage on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at Community Secondary School Orogwe in Owerri West LGA, Imo State.
 
The COWA Chairperson FOU Zone ‘C’ Chapter,  Dr. Mrs. Bolanle Balogun, in her address called on the urgent need for environmental sustainability action and encouraged everyone to join the initiative.
   
“As we know, global warming raises Earth’s average surface temperature over time primarily due to human activities. It amplifies the natural greenhouse effect, where certain atmospheric gases trap heat from the sun to keep the planet habitable,” she said.
  
She charged the staff of the school led by the principal to be Green Borders Initiative Ambassadors for the sustainability drive.
  
Balogun stressed that without environmental sustainability, natural systems can collapse, leading to resource shortages, extreme weather and biodiversity loss.
  
The event featured a practical tree-planting exercise led by the COWA chairperson, the school principal, the Green Ambassadors, and officers’ wives.
    
Balogun urged students to replicate the exercise in their communities and promised that  COWA would renovate the school’s physics, biology, and chemistry laboratories.
  
The School Principal Mrs. Nwanu Clothilda Anayochi expressed gratitude to God and COWA on the choice of their school to carryout this enlightenment campaign.
   
She pledged full support for the initiative and committed the entire school to spreading the message to communities and surroundings.