The Customs Officers Wives Association (COWA) on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, inducted 250 students as Green Ambassadors, to promote environmental responsibility at border communities and its environs.
Speaking at the inauguration under the Sustainability and Green Border Initiative in Idiroko, Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi, the COWA National President, said the inducted ambassadors were expected to enhance environmental practices within COWA communities.
Adeniyi said that the ambassadors are being encouraged to embark on impactful actions like planting trees, maintaining clean surroundings, and enhancing responsible environmental practices.
She disclosed that the COWA School Idiroko has been honoured to become the first Green Borders Eco-School under the Adopt-a-School Campaign.
According to her, across the world, communities are facing environmental challenges that affects how people live, learn and grow.
Adeniyi decried the situation in which flooding destroys homes, plastic waste pollutes land and water, and rising temperatures affect health and agriculture.
She maintained that the most powerful agents of change are often the young people, noting that when a child learns to plant a tree, that child becomes a protector of nature.
“The future of our environment sits in classrooms and that is why this campaign focuses on schools.
“When a school becomes environmentally responsible, an entire community begins to change.” she said.
Adeniyi urged the ambassadors to pick up waste instead of ignoring it, protect trees instead of damaging them, and keep their environment clean.
In his Welcome address, Mr. Olukayode Afeni, the Area Comptroller, NCS, Ogun 1 Area Command, Idiroko, said that the Green Border Initiative aligned perfectly with global and national efforts for promoting environmental responsibility.
Afeni added that the programme also complements the operational objectives of the command.
By Ige Adekunle