Senate Panel Backs Free2Green Rivers Initiative On 230,000 Green Economy Jobs

The Senate Committee on Climate Change and Ecology has thrown its weight behind the Free2Green Rivers campaign aimed at generating over 230,000 jobs.

Approximately 230,000 eco-marshall positions will be generated to support environmental projects, ensuring communities benefit economically from a greener economy.

As part of its eco-inclusivity programmes, the campaign will distribute 2.3 million health wallets to facilitate access to essential healthcare services and 2.3 million clean cookstoves to promote sustainable energy practices.

The chairman of the Committee, Senator Seriake Dickson, described the initiative as a bold programme representing not just a fight against climate change, but a fight for the future of children, the communities in the atate, and the planet as a whole.

He remarked that by mobilising millions of citizens and providing green jobs, the initiative is creating a sustainable foundation for Rivers State and beyond.

Senator Ireti Kingibe, deputy chairperson of the Committee, added that Free2Green Rivers was setting a new precedent for climate action in Nigeria.

“It’s inspiring to see the scale of this initiative—a grassroots movement that is both environmentally transformative and economically empowering. This campaign will be an example of how people, when empowered, can lead the way toward building a cleaner, greener, and more prosperous future,” she noted.

The Free2Green Rivers Campaign sets an unprecedented target: mobilising 2.3 million eco-volunteers to plant over 230 million trees annually across all 23 LGAs in Rivers State. This monumental effort is strategically aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, underscoring its commitment to global environmental priorities while addressing local challenges head-on.

“Free2Green Rivers is about harnessing the collective energy of our communities to restore our natural environment,” said Victor Wilkinson Agih, Lead Sustainable Finance Expert and Director General, ECO2RUPPERS Africa.

“Through our partnership with Free Nigeria Foundation, we are engaging millions of eco-volunteers, creating over 230,000 green jobs, and implementing comprehensive sustainability programs to lay the foundation for a greener, healthier, and more resilient Rivers State.”

The campaign will engage 2.3 million citizens as eco-volunteers in community-driven tree-planting and environmental monitoring activities, targeting the planting of over 230 million trees annually to drastically reduce deforestation, enhance carbon sequestration, and improve biodiversity.

Innovative eco-advocacy programs will train climate leader-ambassadors to promote sustainability and drive local recycling initiatives, including the processing of plastic waste.

Beyond these impressive numerical targets, the Free2Green Rivers Campaign, powered by ECO2RUPPERS Africa and Free Nigeria Foundation, represents a comprehensive effort integrating social, economic, and environmental dimensions.

The initiative will deploy a multi-channel media strategy—leveraging social media, television, radio, and community events—to ensure widespread awareness and active participation. Through collaborative partnerships with local governments, civil society organizations, and community leaders, Free2Green Rivers promises not only to restore degraded landscapes but to ignite a broad-based movement for sustainable development.