Vcare for Development Foundation (VCDF), with support from Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited (SEEPCO), has expanded climate literacy and environmental sustainability efforts in Lagos through the ‘Grow Green’ initiative, a school-based tree planting and environmental education campaign commemorating World Environment Day 2026.
Implemented in partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and the Waste Management Society of Nigeria (WAMASON), the initiative aims to equip students with practical environmental knowledge while encouraging long-term stewardship through tree planting, waste management, and climate awareness.
World Environment Day, observed globally to promote environmental protection, provided the platform for the campaign, reinforcing the growing need for practical climate action as communities increasingly face the impacts of climate change.
Grow Green Expands Tree Planting Across Lagos Schools
The Grow Green initiative supports Lagos State’s environmental education and sustainable development objectives by encouraging tree planting and nurturing within schools.
According to the organisers, the programme has so far recorded the planting of 5,500 tree saplings across 153 schools, forming part of a broader target of 10,000 trees to be planted across the state’s six educational districts.
The latest phase of the campaign was held on June 27, 2026, extending World Environment Day activities beyond awareness campaigns to practical environmental learning and behaviour change among students.
Students Receive Practical Climate Literacy Training
The programme engaged 202 students from Eva Adelaja Girls Junior and Senior Secondary Schools in Bariga and Government Model Junior and Senior Colleges in Owutu, Ikorodu. Also participating were 20 teachers, 58 SEEPCO employee volunteers, and community representatives.
During the exercise, participants planted 336 tree saplings across the two schools.
Beyond tree planting, students received hands-on training in waste segregation, learning how to classify waste into six categories—biodegradable, recyclable, hazardous, sanitary, electronic, and residual waste—to promote cleaner school environments and responsible waste disposal practices.
The programme also introduced participants to composting techniques, demonstrating how organic waste such as food remains and leaves can be converted into compost to improve soil fertility and support healthy plant growth.
Organisers said the training was designed to help students develop practical environmental skills while encouraging them to become climate advocates within their schools, homes, and communities.
Stakeholders Emphasise Shared Responsibility for Climate Action
Stakeholders at the event described environmental protection as a collective responsibility requiring sustained participation from government, communities, schools, and the private sector.
An Ikorodu community leader, Samuel Eruwa, commended the initiative, saying environmental sustainability is closely linked to public health and community wellbeing.
“This is laudable because it speaks to human wellbeing. When the environment is neglected, human life is affected. We appreciate VCDF and the Lagos State Ministry of Education,” he said.
Students also reflected on the personal impact of the programme.
A senior student, Ayomide Modat, pledged to continue caring for the tree planted during the exercise.
“From tomorrow, I will water my tree every morning and evening. I will also share what I’ve learned with my family and juniors. Even after I graduate, I will continue to encourage others to plant trees,” the student said.
One SEEPCO volunteer described the activity as both environmental and deeply personal.
“I chose to dedicate the tree I planted to my late parents, my sister, and my brother-in-law. Knowing these trees will continue to grow and give life makes me feel their memory lives on through them. It became much more than planting a tree—it became a lasting tribute to the people I love and miss,” the volunteer said.
Supporting Long-Term Environmental Stewardship
VCDF said the campaign reflects its ongoing commitment to leveraging SEEPCO’s corporate social responsibility initiatives to strengthen climate literacy and environmental stewardship through partnerships with government institutions, schools, environmental organisations, and local communities.
The foundation noted that sustained environmental education, responsible waste management, and urban tree planting remain critical components of efforts to build cleaner, healthier, and more climate-resilient communities across Nigeria.
As Lagos continues to urbanise, initiatives such as Grow Green are expected to contribute to cleaner air, improved green spaces, healthier school environments, and increased public participation in environmental sustainability.
