First Lady’s ₦50m community green challenge closes without entries

Nigeria's First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has expressed disappointment that the community category of the Renewed Hope Initiative Green Nigeria Challenge closed without attracting substantial participation.

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Unfortunately, no significant entry was received.

Officially closing on July 15, 2026, this category was designed to inspire the transformation of neglected community spaces, such as dumpsites and abandoned areas, into vibrant green parks and eco-friendly zones. However, Mrs. Tinubu stated, "Unfortunately, no significant entry was received."

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I commend the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, His Excellency, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, CON for remodelling the Abuja City Gate, which has become a notable landmark and a clear example of the kind of environmental transformation the Community Category was designed to promote.

Despite the lack of entries in the community category, the First Lady commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for his work on the Abuja City Gate. She described it as a prime example of the environmental transformation the challenge sought to promote, urging other states to replicate such efforts.

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I encourage other States to emulate this example by investing in cleaner, greener communities, ensuring proper waste disposal, and keeping drainage channels free of plastic waste and other obstructions to help prevent flooding.

Tinubu encouraged state governments to invest in cleaner communities, improve waste management, and ensure drainage channels remain clear of plastic waste to mitigate flooding. She reminded the public that the Household and State categories of the Green Nigeria Challenge are still open until December 20, 2026. Entries for these categories should be submitted through the respective First Ladies' offices in each state. The Household category targets 10 frontline northern states with a ₦20 million prize for tree-planting initiatives, while the State Category, open to all states except Enugu, offers a ₦100 million prize for state-wide efforts.

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The Household and State categories of the Green Nigeria Challenge remain open until 20th December, 2026. We encourage households and States to participate.