Nigeria’s Senate Committee on Ecology and Climate Change is developing new legislation to create a youth corps of 60 million “green goal marshals.”
This initiative is designed to empower young people to lead grassroots climate action and improve Nigeria’s ability to withstand the impacts of climate change.
This programme, known as ECO2RUPPERS Nigeria, is part of the country’s broader climate resilience strategy and aims to leverage youth-led innovation for a green economy.
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The marshals will be deployed across all 774 local government areas (LGAs), where they will be trained to design and implement local projects that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The ambitious goal is for each marshal to coordinate at least one verified local SDG action annually, targeting over 60 million interventions by 2026 and 15 million hectares of reforested land.
Senator Seriake Dickson, chairman of the committee, highlighted that the program aligns perfectly with the SDGs.
He described the marshals as “local heroes” who, collectively, form a movement that will change Nigeria’s developmental trajectory.
He assured that the Senate is dedicated to supporting this initiative and integrating it into the national climate and SDG frameworks.
Senator Ireti Kingibe, the deputy chairperson, called the program a “revolution” in how Nigeria localizes the SDGs.
She pledged the committee’s support for new legislation and policy reforms to provide the marshals with the necessary resources, including land access for green projects and special green bonds for youth.
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Victor Agih, the global director of the ECO2RUPPERS Africa programme, emphasized that nations achieve progress more quickly when young people are trusted to lead sustainability efforts.
He stated that the marshals prove that youth are not just the future but the driving force behind it, with every small action contributing to a larger goal.
