RHI unveils Green Nigeria Challenge, honours Enugu with ₦100m as Model State

By Kunle Sanni –

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu on Wednesday unveiled the RHI Green Nigeria Challenge, a nationwide competition aimed at promoting tree planting and environmental cleanliness among households, communities, and states.

Speaking at the quarterly meeting with wives of state governors and coordinators of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), Mrs. Tinubu said the programme, themed “Go Green Today for a Greener Tomorrow,” seeks to inspire Nigerians to take ownership of their environment.

The Challenge features three categories — households, communities, and states — with prizes of ₦20 million, ₦50 million, and ₦100 million respectively. While unveiling the initiative, the First Lady presented a ₦100 million cheque to Enugu State, which was named Model Green State for its commitment to cleanliness and tree planting.

“It’s not only in planting trees, but in environmental cleanliness. If you go to Enugu, Enugu is clean. They earned it,” she said, commending the efforts of the state government.

Mrs. Tinubu also drew from her personal experience, recalling how her background as a biologist and her work during her husband’s tenure as Lagos State governor shaped her commitment to environmental causes. She added that Nigeria must align with global efforts, including tackling plastic waste, as highlighted at the recent G20 Summit in Brazil.

She disclosed that RHI is partnering with the Federal Ministry of Environment to set up Environmental Clubs in secondary schools and Environmental Societies in universities, with modalities being finalized.

The competition, which runs until 2026, targets desertification-prone northern states, youth groups, NGOs, and communities nationwide. Interested participants are encouraged to apply through www.rhinitiative.org.