Akwa Ibom State has officially joined the nationwide Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Green Nigeria Challenge, with the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, Lady Helen Eno Obareki, launching the environmental campaign and rallying all 31 Local Government Areas to embark on coordinated tree-planting and community beautification projects.
The flag-off ceremony, held along Clement Isong Road, Uyo, featured the symbolic planting of trees and marked the commencement of the state’s participation in the national competition championed by the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to promote environmental sustainability, restore green spaces and encourage citizen participation in protecting the environment.
Addressing stakeholders, government officials and volunteers, Lady Helen Obareki, who serves as the Akwa Ibom State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, said the programme was initiated by Nigeria’s First Lady, who directed First Ladies across the federation to implement the challenge in their respective states.
She described the campaign as an investment in the future, stressing that the trees planted today would become enduring symbols of environmental responsibility and a lasting legacy for generations yet unborn.
“The trees we are planting today will stand as a legacy for future generations. I look forward to a time when we can drive past this road and proudly say, ‘We planted that tree right there,'” she said.
The Coordinator urged residents to embrace environmental sanitation, landscaping, tree planting and other eco-friendly initiatives capable of transforming communities into cleaner, healthier and more attractive environments.
She specifically appealed to the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and the Wives of All Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria (WALGON) in Akwa Ibom State to mobilise council chairmen and their spouses to replicate the exercise across all 31 Local Government Areas, ensuring broad grassroots participation in the national challenge.
Lady Helen also encouraged participants to document their activities with photographs and videos as evidence of the state’s participation, expressing confidence that Akwa Ibom would emerge as the overall winner of the RHI Green Nigeria Challenge.
She appreciated government agencies, development partners, volunteers and environmental advocates for supporting the initiative, urging sustained collaboration towards building a greener, cleaner and healthier Akwa Ibom State.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Environment, Nsikak Ekong, described tree planting as a vital environmental intervention that benefits both nature and human health by improving air quality and promoting ecological balance.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Offiong Offor, highlighted additional benefits of trees, including the provision of shade, beautification of public spaces and erosion control, noting that expanding green cover remains critical to sustainable development.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Uyo Local Government Council and Chairman of ALGON, Hon. Uwemedimo Udo, pledged that the exercise would be replicated across all the local government areas, assuring that council administrations would fully support the initiative.
The symbolic tree planting was led by Lady Helen Obareki alongside the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Inibehe Silas; Commissioner for Environment, Nsikak Ekong; Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Offiong Offor; a representative of the Ministry of Works; President of the Commissioners and Special Advisers Wives Association (COSAWA), Dr. Bright Archibong; Chairman of Uyo Local Government Council, Dr Uwemedimo Udo; President of WALGON, Mrs. Akaninyene Udo; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agribusiness, Pastor Godwin Ukwat; a representative of Rotary Club Uyo District; Team Lead of GIFA, Pastor Anne Abraham; and the Akwa Ibom State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Felicia Kalu.
The Green Nigeria Challenge is one of the flagship environmental sustainability programmes under the Renewed Hope Initiative, designed to increase tree cover, encourage community ownership of public spaces, promote waste-to-green projects and strengthen environmental consciousness across Nigeria. It is expected to foster climate resilience while creating healthier and more sustainable communities.
