Senate plans law to mobilise 60m youth for climate resilience

The senate committee on ecology and climate change says it is working on legislation to establish green goal marshals—a 60-million-strong youth corps—to drive grassroots climate action and boost Nigeria’s resilience to the effects of global warming.

The initiative, designed under Nigeria’s nationally determined contributions (NDC 3.0) and climate resilience plans, is part of ECO2RUPPERS Nigeria’s strategy to drive youth-led green economy innovation, climate-smart development, and community-based sustainability solutions.

Seriake Dickson, chairman of the committee, said the programme aligns with the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

“This programme shows what is possible when strategic vision meets community action,” the Bayelsa west senator said.

“Every green goal marshal 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.”

Ireti Kingibe, deputy chairperson of the committee, described ECO2RUPPERS Nigeria as more than a youth initiative, noting that it represents a “revolution” in how the country localises the SDGs.

Kingibe, who represents the federal capital territory (FCT) in the senate, said the committee would support legislation and policy reforms to ensure the marshals have the backing they need — from land access for greening projects to youth-targeted green bonds.

Victor Agih, global director of the ECO2RUPPERS Africa programme, said nations progress “faster and fairer” when young people are trusted as designers, leaders, and implementers of sustainability action.

“With 60 million green goal marshals, ECO2RUPPERS Africa is proving that youth are not just the future—they are the force behind the future,” Agih said.

“Every tree planted, every family helped, every plastic bag collected… adds up. The ECO2RUPPERS model is Nigeria’s youth-powered moonshot for the SDGs.”

According to Agih, the marshals will be spread across Nigeria’s 774 LGAs and trained to design, implement, and scale local SDG-aligned projects.

He added that each marshal is expected to deliver or coordinate at least one verified local SDG action annually, with a target of over 60 million grassroots interventions by 2026 and 15 million hectares of land under reforestation and regreening.

ECO2RUPPERS Nigeria is a national youth volunteers programme for green economy development launched to harness the power of Nigeria’s 77.4 million young people in building a resilient, just, and green economy.