The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Friday encouraged youths to be bold, creative, and take responsibility for their surroundings to ensure a green environment.
Speaking at the launch of the environment club and environment society in Abuja, Senator Tinubu explained that the circular economy offers an opportunity to rethink how people live and produce, creating a system “where nothing is wasted, and everything is valued.”
The president’s wife called on Nigerian youths to spearhead the nation’s drive for environmental sustainability.
The environment society consists of university students, while the environment club is aimed at senior secondary students.
Mrs. Tinubu presented membership kits to selected representatives of both groups, emphasizing the importance of practical tools for their mission.
Reflecting on her own connection to nature, she said: “I am a biologist professionally. I studied educational biology, and my love for plants inspired me in my studies. Teaching environmental sanitation in Lagos was part of my early work, and I believe young people are the right ambassadors to drive this programme we launch today.”
On the initiative’s objectives, the First Lady stated: “The Environment Club and The Environment Society will develop young Nigerians committed to environmental preservation, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable resource use.
“These clubs cultivate a national mindset prioritizing ecological responsibility, alternative livelihoods, and entrepreneurship opportunities for our youth.”
She added: “Members of the Environment Club will keep their schools and communities clean, promote recycling, plant trees, and discourage plastics. They will become young champions of climate awareness, inspiring peers and families to take action.
“The Environment Society in tertiary institutions will lead clean-ups along shorelines and beaches, participate in reforestation, and conduct advocacy on sustainable practices.”
Reiterating the initiative’s alignment with government priorities, she said: “This initiative aligns closely with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, prioritising sustainability, inclusive growth, and youth empowerment.”
Earlier, Minister of Environment Balarabe Abbas Lawal highlighted Nigeria’s pressing environmental issues and stressed the crucial role of young people in tackling them.
He said: “Nigeria faces a severe waste management crisis driven by inadequate infrastructure, weak enforcement, and negative attitudes toward proper waste disposal.
“This has led to rampant pollution, serious public health risks, and environmental degradation.”
Lawal emphasized the need for environmental education: “A key factor is limited access to structured education, especially among young people. Awareness remains low, and unsustainable habits like indiscriminate littering and open burning persist.”
On the mission of the clubs, he said: “We focus on advocacy, climate change adaptation, circular economy practices, disaster risk reduction, and natural resource management. This initiative will drive awareness, community projects, and groom young leaders for Africa’s waste goals.”
He also noted that the initiative is designed to empower youth as positive environmental agents, with support provided through uniforms, tools, and logistical backing.
In a goodwill message, UNDP Resident Representative Elsie Attafuah expressed the international community’s support for Nigeria’s environmental vision and the pivotal role of young people.
Attafuah praised the First Lady for leading a vision that centers both the planet and youth in national development: “There is profound leadership, and the United Nations Development Programme, and by extension, the United Nations family, is honoured to stand with you.”
She also highlighted the urgent nature of global environmental challenges: “Across the world, climate change is reshaping how we live. Floods, heat waves, food systems disruptions, polluted air, plastics, disappearing species.
“That is what we face today. It is one of the most complex development challenges of all times—environmental issues.”
