Adeniyi leads COWA’s bold environmental campaign, mobilise Nigerians for 1,000 trees in 60 minutes

By Ezurike Ugochukwu 

The National President of the Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA), Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi, has led a bold nationwide environmental campaign aimed at mobilising Nigerians to plant 1,000 trees within 60 minutes as part of efforts to promote climate action, environmental sustainability, and community development.

The initiative, executed under the COWA Green Borders sustainability drive, brought together volunteers, stakeholders, community members, and environmental advocates across multiple locations nationwide on Thursday in a coordinated one-hour tree planting exercise designed to combat deforestation, land degradation, and the growing threats of climate change.

The campaign as a designed coordinated national exercise, mobilised volunteers, stakeholders, community members and environmental advocates to participate in simultaneous tree planting activities between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. across designated locations nationwide.

COWA said the initiative is targeted at tackling environmental challenges such as deforestation, climate change, and land degradation, while deepening public awareness of the importance of environmental conservation.

Speaking on the campaign, National President of COWA, Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi, described the exercise as a practical demonstration of collective responsibility in addressing environmental challenges.

“If we are to secure a healthier and more sustainable future for our communities, we must all recognise that environmental stewardship is a shared duty. This initiative is not simply about planting trees; it is about planting hope, restoring our environment and inspiring a culture of responsibility that can endure for generations,” she said.

According to her, the campaign aligns with COWA’s broader vision of linking environmental sustainability with community engagement and development.

“The ‘1,000 Trees in One Hour’ campaign shows what can be achieved when people come together with purpose. It is both symbolic and practical. While the trees planted today will contribute to environmental restoration, the awareness created will help nurture environmentally conscious citizens, especially among younger generations,” Adeniyi added.

She noted that the project is designed to go beyond a one-day activity and evolve into a sustained national movement for environmental advocacy and citizen participation.

“Our vision is to make environmental consciousness a way of life in our communities. Through the Green Borders initiative, we want to encourage partnerships, inspire local ownership and build a nationwide movement where sustainability is driven not only by policy, but by people,” she stated.

COWA explained that beyond the coordinated planting exercise, the campaign is expected to stimulate broader conversations around environmental protection, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable development.

The association added that the initiative would also strengthen partnerships with environmental groups, institutional stakeholders, and local communities for future sustainability interventions.

With the launch of the “1,000 Trees in One Hour” campaign, COWA reaffirmed its growing role in community-based environmental advocacy, while highlighting the critical role of women, youths, and citizens in safeguarding Nigeria’s environmental future.