The community category of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Green Nigeria Challenge, which offered a ₦50 million prize for environmental restoration projects, has closed without receiving any significant entries.
The announcement was made on Tuesday by First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who said the category officially closed on July 15, 2026.
According to a statement, the competition was created to encourage local governments, communities, youth groups, schools and non-governmental organisations to transform degraded spaces such as dumpsites, landfills and abandoned areas into green parks, gardens and other environmentally friendly spaces.
“Unfortunately, no significant entry was received,” the First Lady said.
Despite the outcome, Tinubu praised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for remodelling the Abuja City Gate, describing the project as a strong example of the type of environmental transformation the initiative was designed to promote.
She also urged state governments to invest in cleaner and greener communities by improving waste management and keeping drainage channels free of plastic waste and other blockages to help reduce flooding.
Tinubu noted that the Household and State categories of the Green Nigeria Challenge remain open until December 20, 2026.
The Household Category is open to households in 10 frontline northern states, offering a ₦20 million prize for tree-planting initiatives. The State Category, open to all states except Enugu, which has already been recognised as the RHI’s Model Green State, carries a ₦100 million prize for state-wide tree-planting efforts.
She encouraged eligible participants to submit their entries through the Offices of the First Ladies in their respective states before the deadline.
The Renewed Hope Initiative Green Nigeria Challenge is a nationwide environmental campaign promoting tree planting and the restoration of degraded environments.
