Telco Pushes Climate Action with School Green Gardens

In a move aimed at promoting climate consciousness and environmental sustainability among young Nigerians, Airtel Africa Foundation, through Airtel Nigeria, has launched the Airtel Green Schools initiative, a programme designed to establish environmental learning spaces in primary and secondary schools across the country.

The initiative, introduced as part of Airtel Nigeria’s activities to commemorate the 2026 World Environment Day, themed “Climate Action,” will see 10 adopted schools across nine states and the six geopolitical zones transformed into sustainability-focused learning centres.

Under the initiative, each beneficiary school will host an Airtel Garden, featuring sections for edible crops, fruit trees and shade trees, giving pupils practical exposure to food cultivation, biodiversity and the role of green cover in reducing the impact of climate change.

The programme also incorporates composting stations where organic waste generated within school premises can be converted into nutrient-rich compost, alongside plastic recycling sections designed to repurpose waste materials such as bottles and used tyres as part of broader circular economy practices.

Beneficiary schools include St. George’s Nursery and Primary School, Ipaja, Lagos; Yahaya Primary School, Zaria; Iyeru-Okin Primary School, Kwara; St. John Primary School, Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State; Community Primary School, Amumara, Imo State; Presbyterian Primary School, Ediba, Cross River; Migrant Farmers Community Primary School, Umuahia, Abia State; Gwange III Primary School, Maiduguri, Borno State; Mayflower Secondary School, Ikenne, Ogun State; and Government Day Primary School, Gombe State.

Speaking on the initiative, chairman of Airtel Africa Foundation, Segun Ogunsanya, said the programme is designed to move beyond awareness to practical environmental responsibility among school children.
“We are excited to inaugurate Airtel Green Schools, which are designed to go beyond awareness and create real behavioural change within Nigeria’s school communities.

“Through the Restore, Reduce and Educate pillars, we are equipping young people with practical tools such as gardens, recycling awareness, and environmental learning resources.

“Our goal is to create a replicable Green School model that can be scaled and sustained over time, ensuring that environmental education becomes part of everyday learning for the children in our adopted schools,” he said.

A major highlight of the launch is the ‘’Read, Engage, Plant’’ initiative, an immersive environmental learning model combining storytelling, practical engagement and direct climate action.

As part of the programme, the telco’s staff under its Employee Volunteer Programme (EVP) engaged pupils by reading the environmental-themed book, Jojo and Jade, Heroes of Mother Earth,” before participating in crop planting exercises and climate action pledge recitations.

The event also witnessed the inauguration of the Airtel Garden Eco Club, aimed at sustaining environmental consciousness among students.

Speaking at the flag-off, chief executive officer of Airtel Nigeria, Dinesh Balsingh, said practical exposure remains key to meaningful climate action.

“Climate action becomes meaningful when awareness is translated into action.
“Through the Airtel Garden, we are creating living classrooms where pupils can learn practical lessons about environmental stewardship, sustainable agriculture, waste management and the importance of protecting our planet.
“We believe that empowering young people with these experiences today will help shape a more environmentally responsible generation tomorrow,” Balsingh stated.

While the Airtel Green Schools campaign aligns with Airtel’s broader sustainability framework built around the pillars of Reuse, Educate and Restore, with the telecom giant saying the initiative will help strengthen green spaces in school communities while instilling responsible environmental practices among the next generation.

The programme’s initiative is lauded for its climate advocacy and environmental education, even as Nigeria continues to grapple with the effects of climate change, including flooding, rising temperatures and land degradation.