The Senate Committee on Ecology and Climate Change is reviewing the possibility of introducing enabling legislation to institutionalize the Green Goal Marshals Program.
This initiative, aligned with Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0) and broader climate resilience strategies, aims to tackle the escalating climate crisis through youth-led action, green innovation, and sustainable development rooted in local communities.
The Green Goal Marshals initiative, which operates under the ECO2RUPPERS Nigeria framework, is positioned as a transformative youth-driven movement for climate-smart growth and national sustainability.
According to the chairman of the Senate Committee, Senator Seriake Dickson, the program exemplifies the impact of merging strategic vision with grassroots involvement.
“This program shows what is possible when strategic vision meets community action. Every Green Goal Marshall is a local hero.
Together, they form a movement that is changing the developmental destiny of Nigeria.
The Senate is committed to expanding support and integrating this initiative into the national SDG and climate framework,” Senator Dickson stated.
Supporting the program’s legislative pathway, Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Senator Heebah Ireti Kingibe, emphasized the broader significance of ECO2RUPPERS Nigeria. She highlighted its role in redefining the approach to implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the community level.
Describing the initiative as more than a youth-focused program, Senator Kingibe said it symbolizes a national shift in development thinking. Representing the Federal Capital Territory in the upper chamber, she assured that the committee will advocate for policy reforms and legislative support, including land access for greening efforts and the introduction of youth-targeted green bonds.
Mr. Victor Wilkinson Agih, Global Director of the ECO2RUPPERS Africa Programme, underscored the importance of entrusting youth with leadership in sustainability efforts.
He noted, “When young people are trusted as designers, leaders, and implementers—not just beneficiaries of sustainability action, nations move faster and fairer.”
Agih added, “Every tree planted, every family helped, every plastic bag collected… adds up. The ECO2RUPPERS model is Nigeria’s youth-powered moonshot for the SDGs.”
The program currently spans all 774 local government areas in Nigeria, with each Green Goal Marshal expected to lead or coordinate at least one verified local SDG-aligned initiative annually. By 2026, the goal is to surpass 60 million grassroots sustainability actions and reforest 15 million hectares of land.
Launched as a National Youth Volunteers initiative for Green Economy Development, ECO2RUPPERS Nigeria aims to mobilize the country’s 77.4 million youth to drive climate resilience and inclusive growth. Through a combination of volunteerism, systems leadership, and green finance innovations, the program seeks to equip young Nigerians with the tools, knowledge, and networks to lead the country’s transition to a regenerative, climate-smart economy.
