Enugu Crowned Nigeria’s Cleanest State, Clinches ₦100 Million Green Award!
Abuja, Nigeria — Thursday, 11 September 2025
Enugu State has been honored with the prestigious ₦100 million “Model Green State” award by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
This accolade was presented during the launch of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Green Nigeria Challenge at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The competition, themed “Go Green Today for a Greener Tomorrow,” aims to promote environmental cleanliness and tree planting across households, communities, and states.
Senator Tinubu commended Enugu for its exemplary environmental practices, stating, “They earned it. It’s not only in planting trees, but also in environmental cleanliness. If you go to Enugu, Enugu is clean.” She highlighted the proactive approach of Enugu’s leadership, particularly the wife of the governor, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah, who promptly addresses sanitation issues to maintain the state’s cleanliness.
The Green Nigeria Challenge is structured into three categories.
The household category targets families nationwide, encouraging them to plant at least one tree to qualify.
The community category invites local governments, youth groups, schools, and NGOs to reclaim and transform degraded or abandoned spaces into eco-friendly areas.
The state category involves a competition among states, excluding Enugu which has already been recognized, with judges evaluating tree coverage along major roads and inner streets. The initiative offers a grand prize of ₦20 million for the best-performing household, ₦50 million for the best community, and ₦100 million for the best state.
Mrs. Mbah expressed gratitude for the recognition, attributing the achievement to the collective efforts of the state government, local authorities, and agencies like the Enugu State Waste Management Authority (ESWAMA). She reaffirmed the state’s commitment to maintaining its status as a model for environmental stewardship, stating, “We will not relent. We will keep pushing to remain that role model state”.
The Green Nigeria Challenge runs until 2026, with key submission deadlines already set. Families, schools, communities, and state governments are encouraged to participate by registering on their website.
As Enugu State continues to lead by example, it sets a benchmark for others to emulate in the pursuit of a greener Nigeria.
