Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has launched the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Green Nigeria Challenge, a nationwide competition aimed at mobilising households, communities, and states to embrace tree planting and environmental sanitation.

Unveiling the initiative during the quarterly meeting with wives of state governors and RHI coordinators in Abuja, Mrs. Tinubu said the project, themed “Go Green Today for a Greener Tomorrow,” seeks to instill a culture of environmental responsibility across the country.

The competition features three categories: ₦20 million for the best-performing household, ₦50 million for the best community, and ₦100 million for the best state.

At the launch, Enugu State was recognised as the Model Green State and presented with the ₦100 million grand prize.
“They earned it. It’s not only in planting trees, but also in environmental cleanliness. If you go to Enugu, Enugu is clean,” Mrs. Tinubu said, commending the state government’s proactive sanitation efforts.

Her media aide, Busola Kukoyi, explained that the household category targets 11 northern states most vulnerable to desertification, requiring families to plant at least one tree to qualify.

The community category will encourage youth groups, schools, local governments, and NGOs to transform degraded areas into eco-friendly parks and gardens.

The state category will engage states in large-scale tree planting and environmental renewal, excluding Enugu, which has already been awarded.

Mrs. Tinubu traced her passion for environmental causes to her tenure as First Lady of Lagos State, noting, “As a biologist, I’ve always loved to go clean.
“During the time my husband was governor of Lagos State, I used to clean clogged drains myself. People have to see you do what you want them to do; it’s more appealing that way.”

She also linked the initiative to global environmental concerns, citing discussions at the recent G20 Summit in Brazil, where plastic waste management was a central theme.
“Every country is cleaning its oceans and waterways because marine life is being destroyed by plastic waste. We at RHI are working with the Ministry of Environment on similar efforts,” she said.

As part of its long-term strategy, the RHI will partner with the Ministry of Environment to establish Environmental Clubs in secondary schools and Environmental Societies in tertiary institutions nationwide.

The Green Nigeria Challenge, which runs until 2026, is expected to inspire widespread citizen action for a cleaner, greener country.