First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu on Monday expressed disappointment that no state government entered the N50 million prize category of the Renewed Hope Initiative Green Nigeria Challenge, even though the competition was created to encourage young people to turn abandoned public spaces and dumpsites into parks and gardens.
She spoke at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during a ceremony where the Federal Capital Territory Administration received recognition for its environmental work.
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The First Lady spoke on the issue as she honoured the FCT Administration for environmental improvements, using the remodelling of Abuja’s City Gate as an example of the type of project the competition was created to encourage.
She presented Certificates of Commendation to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the Minister of State for the FCT, Dr Mariya Bunkure. Details of the event were released by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi.
First Lady seeks greater youth participation
She said the Community category of the Green Nigeria Challenge carried a N50 million prize to encourage state governments to involve young people in restoring neglected public spaces, yet no state submitted an entry.
“It was a N50m prize money, and they didn’t enter. This was supposed to get our youth involved,” she said.
She explained that the initiative was designed to encourage states to convert abandoned public spaces and dumpsites into clean parks and attractive gardens that people could enjoy.
The First Lady appealed to the wives of state governors to mobilise children and students into environmental clubs and sustainability activities in schools and tertiary institutions.
“I’m using this opportunity to appeal to our First Ladies: get our young children into the environmental clubs and environmental societies for our youth in tertiary institutions,” she said.
She recalled belonging to the Youth Environmental Programme for West Africa while she was a student at the College of Education. She said the group travelled by road through several West African countries, an experience she described as memorable.
She also encouraged young Nigerians to contribute to environmental protection.
“We have to engage our young people and make sure that they can help build. Everybody has something to contribute to this country. It’s a great country, and that’s why we are doing all we can,” she said.
She reminded participants that entries for the Household and State categories of the Renewed Hope Initiative Green Nigeria Challenge will continue until 20 December 2026.
City Gate project earns commendation
The First Lady praised Wike for turning Abuja’s City Gate into what she described as a major recreational landmark. She said the project showed what neglected public spaces could become when properly redesigned.
“When I saw what he did with the City Gate, my God, unbelievable. I want to thank him. He’s done very well. The remodelled Abuja City Gate is an excellent example of what abandoned public areas can become: a transformed key national landmark that warmly welcomes all Nigerians and visitors to our nation’s capital,” she said.
Wike disclosed that the City Gate project began after the First Lady questioned why Nigeria did not improve public spaces after learning from other countries.
“She called on me to say: ‘Why do we travel out and we do not learn anything when we travel? Look at the way our city looks, look at the way city gates in other countries look. Why not do something to change it?’” he said.
He explained that the FCT Administration later engaged the original designers of the City Gate to produce a new concept that has turned the location into a recreational spot where people gather, including at night.
“Today, by the grace of God, whenever you pass there, even at night, you see people gathered there. There is activity. That is what it is supposed to be,” Wike said.
The minister also announced plans to redesign a green area in Abuja’s Lifecamp district into another recreation centre where residents can relax.
He said environmental cleanliness is necessary for the development of any city or country, noting that green spaces and clean surroundings make communities more attractive and pleasant.
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