Greening The Future in Nigeria
How young people in cross river state are healing the planet, one tree at a time
“When we clean the mangroves, we’re not just picking up plastics, we’re protecting the fish, the water we drink and the air we breathe.”
In the lush, humid air of Nigeria’s Cross River State, a quiet revolution is taking root. Led not by politicians or scientists, but by young people, students like Blessing Joseph, a vivacious 15-year-old from Margaret Ekpo Secondary School in Calabar. And this movement is transforming how communities see their role in the fight against climate change.
Through UNICEF and Generation Unlimited, Green Rising Initiative, hundreds of young people across Cross River are planting trees, cleaning mangrove ecosystems, and driving awareness on how everyday actions can protect the planet and safeguard their futures.
Every Saturday morning, Blessing and her schoolmates trade uniforms for gloves, buckets, and seedlings. Their mission: to restore mangrove forests along the Calabar River and rid them of plastic waste that is choking their roots.
“We used to think climate change was something far away,” says Blessing, her hands covered in rich, dark soil. “But when we saw how plastics blocked our drains and flooded our school, we realized it starts here, with us.”
Blessing is part of a new generation of young environmental stewards supported through UNICEF’s Green Rising initiative, which equips young people with the knowledge and tools to lead climate recovery efforts in their communities. In Cross River State, where rich biodiversity meets increasing environmental stress, these young leaders are planting thousands of native trees and restoring degraded land back to health.
UNICEF’s WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) programme plays a vital role, linking environmental sustainability with clean water and healthy living. By combining climate education with practical action, students are learning that protecting water sources means protecting life itself.
When we clean the mangroves, we are not just picking up plastics, we are protecting the fish, the water we drink, and the very air we breathe.
The initiative also empowers young people to engage in and with their communities. Through school clubs and peer sessions, Blessing and her friends are spreading climate awareness, teaching families how plastic waste management and tree planting can reduce flooding and improve hygiene.
Since the initiative began, over 26,000 trees have been planted in schools and communities across Cross River and Enugu State. Dozens of schools now run “Green Clubs” where students monitor planted tree growth, organize clean-ups, and advocate for climate-smart practices through debates, quiz and innovative competitions.
“These young changemakers remind us that climate recovery is not just a global commitment, it’s a local, daily act of care,” beams a proud Juliet Chiluwe, Chief of UNICEF Field Office, Enugu. “Their leadership gives hope for a greener, healthier future”, Juliet added.
As world leaders gather for COP30, Blessing’s story stands as a symbol of what’s possible when young people are given the opportunity to lead climate action. In every sapling planted and every mangrove cleaned, these young people are nurturing not only the environment but the spirit of resilience and hope for generations to come.
