COWA drives grassroots climate awareness with new school-based initiative

The Customs Officers Wives Association (COWA) has launched an Adopt-a-School Campaign aimed at promoting environmental awareness and sustainability among young Nigerians, with the initiative taking off at COWA School in Idiroko, Ogun State.

The programme, anchored on the COWA Green Borders & Sustainability Initiative (CGBSI), is designed to institutionalise environmental education within school systems while equipping students with practical knowledge to drive sustainability efforts in their communities.

According to a statement by the association, The launch event, held on Monday drew participation from students, teachers, environmental advocates, and representatives of the Nigeria Customs Service across five commands, including PTML, Federal Operations Unit (FOU) A, Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT), Ogun II Command, and Apapa Command.

As part of the event, COWA School, Idiroko, was formally designated as the first Green Borders Eco-School, marking the beginning of a broader nationwide rollout aimed at embedding environmental consciousness among students.

The initiative featured a range of student-centred activities, including environmental drama, recycling innovation challenges, eco-art exhibitions, panel discussions, and interactive games. These engagements were designed to move beyond classroom theory by fostering creativity, critical thinking, and leadership skills among participants.

A key highlight was the Green Campus Tree Planting Festival, during which dozens of trees were planted across the school premises, reinforcing the campaign’s focus on environmental restoration and climate action.

To ensure continuity, COWA established a Green Borders Eco-Club within the school. The club will coordinate ongoing activities such as tree care, recycling projects, and environmental sanitation efforts. Students were also inducted as “Young Green Guardians” after taking a pledge to protect the environment and promote responsible waste management in their communities.

Speaking at the event, Kikelomo Adeniyi, COWA National President, underscored the importance of early environmental education in shaping 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.

She added that schools remain the most effective platform for instilling lifelong environmental values, noting that the campaign goes beyond tree planting to nurturing a generation of environmentally conscious leaders.

“Our goal is to create a network of Green Schools across Nigeria where students are empowered to take ownership of environmental sustainability within their communities. This is not a one-off event, but the beginning of a sustained effort to build environmentally conscious citizens,” Adeniyi stated.

COWA disclosed that the Adopt-a-School Campaign will be expanded across Customs commands nationwide, with a focus on environmental education, tree planting, recycling, and the establishment of eco-clubs in schools.