Hope Aglow, UNA Nigeria and Brigham University Mark World Environment Day with Nationwide Climate Action

Hope Aglow Charity Foundation, in collaboration with the United Nations Association of Nigeria (UNA Nigeria) and Brigham University, celebrated World Environment Day 2026 with a nationwide environmental campaign that saw over 500 trees planted and hundreds of students actively engaged in climate action activities across Lagos, Rivers State, and the Federal Capital Territory.

The initiative, themed “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future,” combined tree planting, environmental sanitation, waste reduction advocacy, and climate education, culminating in an international webinar featuring experts from Nigeria and abroad.

During the Lagos outreach at Obele Community High School, Surulere, UNA Nigeria President Prof. Remi Olutimo highlighted the importance of trees in combating environmental challenges.

“Trees are Nigeria’s first line of defense against erosion, heat stress, and air pollution,” he said, urging students to become custodians of the environment rather than mere consumers. Students learned about the impact of deforestation on flooding and rising temperatures before participating in a “One Student, One Tree” exercise using climate-resilient species.

In Rivers State, the programme at Government Secondary School, Eneka, addressed climate change realities in the Niger Delta, including flooding, biodiversity loss, and threats to livelihoods. Prof. Cynthia Obiorah, Chairman of Climate Action and SDGs at UNA Nigeria, encouraged students to become advocates for environmental sustainability in their communities.
Participants were inaugurated as Environmental Ambassadors, received indigenous seedlings for home planting, and were provided with over 300 reusable water bottles and colour-coded waste bins to promote waste segregation and reduce plastic pollution.

At Brigham University in Abuja, students engaged in a campus-wide clean-up and planted ornamental and shade trees under the “Think Green Before You Act” campaign. They were encouraged to embrace energy conservation, reduce plastic consumption, and adopt responsible waste management practices.

The day concluded with an international webinar featuring climate experts, policymakers, and technology leaders, including Prof. Obiorah, Prof. Olutimo, Amb. Dr. Rui Dai (Chairman, International Artificial Intelligence Association), and Dr. Tong Xu (Senior Observer, United Nations Climate Change Conferences). The panel, “How Humanity Must Lead Climate Action,” emphasized combining scientific innovation, effective policies, and grassroots participation to tackle environmental challenges.

The organisers noted that the initiative contributes directly to several Sustainable Development Goals, including Sustainable Cities and Communities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action, Life Below Water, and Life on Land.

Reaffirming their commitment to environmental sustainability, Hope Aglow Charity Foundation and UNA Nigeria stressed that climate action should go beyond annual observances to ongoing community engagement.

“World Environment Day is not just a celebration; it is a call to duty. Preserving the environment today is essential for a safer, more climate-resilient future,” the organisations concluded.

If you want, I can also create a �⁠shorter, punchy version for social media or news headlines that highlights the tree planting and student involvement. Do you want me to do that?