Customs Officers’ Wives Association Launches Adopt-a-School Campaign to Groom Young Environmental Stewards in Ogun State
The Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA) has launched an Adopt-a-School Campaign at COWA School in Idiroko, Ogun State, aimed at nurturing a new generation of environmentally responsible Nigerians through structured environmental education and sustainability programmes.
The initiative, anchored on the COWA Green Borders and Sustainability Initiative (CGBSI), is designed to institutionalized environmental education within schools while equipping students with the knowledge and practical tools required to champion sustainability within their communities.
The launch event, held on March 16, 2026, attracted students, teachers, environmental advocates, and representatives from five Commands of the Nigeria Customs Service, including PTML, Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A, Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT), Ogun II Command which hosted the event, and Apapa Command.
As part of the programme, the school was symbolically designated as the first Green Borders Eco-School, marking the beginning of what stakeholders described as a structured nationwide campaign to promote environmental consciousness among young Nigerians.
The student-driven event featured a range of interactive activities such as environmental drama presentations, recycling innovation challenges, eco-art exhibitions, student-led panel discussions, and environmental games. Organisers said the engagements were designed to move beyond theoretical learning and encourage creativity, leadership, and problem-solving among students.
One of the major highlights of the programme was the Green Campus Tree Planting Festival, during which dozens of trees were planted within the school premises to support environmental restoration and climate action.
To sustain the initiative, COWA established a Green Borders Eco-Club in the school to coordinate environmental advocacy activities, including tree nurturing, recycling programmes, and routine sanitation exercises.
Students were also formally inducted as Young Green Guardians after taking a pledge to protect the environment, promote responsible waste management, and serve as sustainability ambassadors in their communities.
Speaking at the event, the National President of the Customs Officers’ Wives Association, Kikelomo Adeniyi, emphasised the importance of early environmental education in building a sustainable future.
“If we are to build a Nigeria that is environmentally secure and sustainable, we must begin by investing in our children, because they are the custodians of tomorrow’s environment,” she said.
According to her, schools remain the most effective platform for instilling lifelong values of environmental responsibility.
“Through this Adopt-a-School campaign, we are not only planting trees, but also nurturing a generation of young leaders who understand the importance of protecting their environment,” Adeniyi added.
She further explained that the programme is designed to grow into a nationwide movement that will empower students to take ownership of environmental sustainability.
“Our goal is to create a network of Green Schools across Nigeria where students are empowered to champion sustainability within their communities. This is not a one-off intervention but the beginning of a sustained effort to build environmentally conscious citizens,” she said.
COWA disclosed that the Adopt-a-School Campaign will be expanded across various Commands of the Nigeria Customs Service nationwide as part of the broader CGBSI framework.
The expansion will focus on environmental education, tree planting, recycling, responsible waste management, and the establishment of eco-clubs in schools, with the goal of strengthening community-based environmental stewardship and empowering young Nigerians to actively protect the nation’s environment.
No comments