The Customs Officers Wives Association (COWA), Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘C’ Owerri Chapter, has stepped into Nigeria’s growing environmental advocacy space, joining the nationwide Green Border Initiative with a high-impact tree-planting campaign tagged “Plant 1000 Trees in 1 Hour.”
The initiative, championed by COWA National President, Kikelomo Adeniyi, is designed to deepen public awareness—particularly among students—on the escalating threats of global warming and environmental degradation.
The Owerri activation of the campaign took place on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at Community Secondary School, Orogwe, in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, where advocacy met action in a blend of education and practical engagement.
Addressing students and staff, the Chairperson of COWA, FOU Zone ‘C’, Bolanle Balogun, underscored the urgency of environmental responsibility, calling for collective action to safeguard the planet.
She explained that global warming—driven largely by human activity—intensifies the natural greenhouse effect, trapping heat within the Earth’s atmosphere and steadily raising global temperatures. According to her, the consequences of inaction are severe, ranging from resource depletion to extreme weather events and biodiversity loss.
Dr. Balogun further tasked the school community to take ownership of the initiative by serving as Green Border Ambassadors, urging them to extend the campaign’s message beyond the classroom into their communities.
The highlight of the event was a symbolic tree-planting exercise led by COWA members, school authorities, and student representatives—an act intended not just as ceremony, but as a call to sustained environmental stewardship.
In a move that drew commendation, the COWA Chairperson also pledged the renovation of the school’s science laboratories—physics, biology, and chemistry—linking environmental awareness with improved learning infrastructure.
Responding, the School Principal, Nwanu Clothilda Anayochi, expressed deep appreciation to COWA for selecting the school as a host for the campaign. She affirmed the institution’s commitment to driving the initiative forward, pledging that both staff and students would actively promote environmental consciousness within and beyond the school environment.
With this intervention, COWA reinforces its expanding role beyond welfare advocacy into nation-building efforts, positioning environmental sustainability as a shared civic responsibility.
