Enugu State received a N100 million Model Green State award as the cleanest and greenest state in the federation, with the first lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, launching the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Green Nigeria challenge.
The Green Nigeria Challenge, envisioned by the First Lady, is a national competition that brings together families, youth groups, and communities to engage in tree planting and sanitation exercises, aiming to improve the nation’s environmental situation.
The Renewed Hope Initiative Green Challenge was unveiled by the first lady at the quarterly meeting with Wives of State Governors and Coordinators of the RHI at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday.
The Challenge, themed “Go Green Today for a Greener Tomorrow,” comes in three categories with respective cash prizes for winners of each category. N20 million for the winner of the Household category, N50 million for the winner of the community category, and N100 million for the winner of the state category.
The first lady presented a cheque of N100 million to the first lady of Enugu State, Mrs Nkechinyere Mba, as the state was declared the winner of the state category.
“They earned it. It is not only in planting trees, but also in environmental cleanliness. If you go to Enugu, Enugu is clean,” the First Lady stated.
Green Enugu Initiative
Enugu, duly recognized for its greenery, ambience, and cleanliness, is a result of previous efforts to maintain a pristine environmental condition in the state.
Last week, a group of Enugu youths and residents led by an X influencer @the_Vyrus planted 350 trees in and around Enugu under a Green Enugu Initiative.
The Green Enugu Initiative, funded by donors, aims to improve Enugu Environs with trees, adding to the state’s greenery, ambience, and overall quality of life.
Notable donors to the initiative include Emeka MBA, CEO of Afia TV, Captain Arinze Odira, Valerian Nwadike, Founder & Managing Partner Valerian Vianney & Partners LP, and Okafor Obiageli.
Enugu state last month hosted over 20,000 lawyers from all over the country for the Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference.
The State received a pass mark for comfortably hosting the event, and its cleanliness and greenery added to the quality of the event, making a good case for more national events in the Southeast region.
