In a bold move to combat deforestation and promote sustainable development, ECO2RUPPERS Africa and the Free Nigeria Foundation have launched the Free2Green Rivers Campaign, a large-scale environmental initiative aimed at planting 230 million trees annually across Rivers State.
The campaign also targets the mobilisation of 2.3 million eco-volunteers and the creation of 230,000 green jobs across all 23 local government areas in the state. Organisers say the initiative will contribute significantly to ecosystem restoration and climate resilience, while simultaneously driving green economic growth through sustainable energy and employment opportunities.
Director General of ECO2RUPPERS Africa, Wilkinson Agih, described the campaign as a collaborative community-driven effort to restore the natural environment. “We are engaging millions of eco-volunteers, creating over 230,000 green jobs, and implementing comprehensive sustainability programs to lay the foundation for a greener, healthier, and more resilient Rivers State,” he said.
The project, aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, includes the distribution of 2.3 million clean cookstoves to reduce fossil fuel dependence, as well as 2.3 million health wallets to improve healthcare access for underserved populations.
Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, Senator Seriake Dickson, hailed the project as a model of visionary grassroots climate action. “This bold programme represents not just a fight against climate change, but a fight for the future of our children, our communities, and the planet,” he stated.
Senator Ireti Kingibe, Deputy Chairperson of the committee, praised the initiative’s scale and potential impact, saying, “It’s inspiring to see the scale of this initiative… a grassroots movement that is both environmentally transformative and economically empowering.”
The Free2Green Rivers Campaign is expected to serve as a blueprint for similar climate and development interventions across Nigeria.
