Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has officially launched the RHI Green Nigeria Challenge, a nationwide competition designed to empower households, communities, and states to take bold action for a greener and cleaner Nigeria.
The initiative, themed “Go Green Today for a Greener Tomorrow,” was unveiled on Wednesday during the quarterly meeting with state RHI coordinators and governors’ wives in Abuja. It offers a grand prize of N20 million for the best-performing household, with additional rewards for community groups and states.
At the launch, the First Lady presented a N100 million cheque to Enugu State, recognizing it as the Model Green State.
“They earned it,” Mrs Tinubu said, commending Enugu’s commitment to both tree planting and environmental cleanliness. “If you go to Enugu, Enugu is clean.”
The competition is structured into three categories:
- Household Category: Focused on 11 northern states prone to desertification, with at least one tree required per household.
- Community Category: Open to local governments, youth groups, NGOs, and schools nationwide to reclaim degraded spaces.
- State Category: For states to compete based on tree coverage along major roads and streets (excluding Enugu, already rewarded).
Mrs Tinubu shared her personal motivation, recalling her hands-on efforts during her husband’s time as Lagos State governor.
“As a biologist, I’ve always loved to go clean. People have to see you do what you want them to do,” she said.
She also highlighted Nigeria’s global engagement on environmental issues, citing lessons from the G20 summit in Brazil, where plastic waste management was a key focus.
The First Lady praised gardeners at the Presidential Villa, promising recognition for their role in maintaining the lush scenery.
Receiving the award on behalf of her husband, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, RHI State Coordinator Nkechinyere Mbah expressed gratitude, pledging to sustain Enugu’s leadership as a model green state.
Also speaking, Olufolake AbdulRazaq, First Lady of Kwara State and Chairperson of the Governors’ Spouses Forum, stressed grassroots engagement, noting the importance of involving schools, traditional leaders, CSOs, and local governments in environmental campaigns.
The challenge is expected to inspire nationwide environmental responsibility, with submissions open until 2026. Interested participants can learn more and register at www.rhinitiative.org.
