First Lady regrets low entries as RHI Green Nigeria Community

From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, has expressed regret after entries for the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Green Nigeria Challenge’s Community Category closed on July 15 with “no significant entry” submitted, an outcome she described as disappointing for a programme aimed at transforming degraded community spaces into green public areas.

In a statement, the First Lady, who launched the competition to convert dumpsites, landfills and abandoned lots into parks, gardens and other eco‑friendly spaces, said she regretted the low response from communities across the country. “We regret to report that no significant entry was received,” the statement read.

Mrs. Tinubu used the announcement to lament the shortfall and highlight positive examples of environmental transformation. “I commend the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, 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,” she said.

She urged states and local communities to take the Abuja project as a model, stressing the practical steps needed to improve neighbourhoods and prevent flooding. “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,” the statement added.

Despite the disappointment in the Community Category, she noted that the Household and State categories of the project remain open and called for wider participation. “We encourage households and states to participate,” she said, reminding would‑be entrants that the deadline for those categories is December 20 and that submissions should be made through the Office of the First Lady in the respective states.

She appealed for collective action, saying, “Together, let us go green today for a greener tomorrow.”