The Women Support Women Community Network (WOSCONET) has commended the wife of the Governor of Enugu State, Mrs Nkechinyere Ihuoma Mbah, for her exceptional leadership and commitment to environmental cleanliness, following Enugu State’s emergence as the winner of the N100 million Model Green State Award at the launch of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Green Nigeria Challenge by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
The award, presented at the Presidential Villa during the quarterly meeting with wives of state governors and RHI coordinators, crowned Enugu State as the cleanest state in Nigeria. The First Lady, who presented the cheque and plaque to Mrs Mbah, noted that the honour was not only about tree planting but also about the sustained culture of environmental cleanliness in the state. “If you go to Enugu, Enugu is clean. They earned it,” Senator Tinubu declared.
Recounting her interaction with Mrs Mbah, Senator Tinubu applauded her proactive approach in addressing environmental concerns, highlighting how issues of litter and untidiness are swiftly corrected on the governor’s instruction. She stressed that such responsiveness exemplifies good governance and accountability.
In her response, Mrs Nkechinyere Ihuoma Mbah expressed deep appreciation to the First Lady for the recognition, while dedicating the award to her husband, Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, the state functionaries, and the people of Enugu. “First, I want to thank the First Lady and the mother of the nation for recognizing Enugu State as a green and clean state. I also want to thank my husband, the Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, for his tireless effort to keep Enugu clean and green. I thank the commissioners, the local government chairmen, and relevant agencies like ESWAMA for their efforts too. The key to keeping the state clean and green is not just by giving instructions, but by being proactive, moving around, carrying out inspection, and doing all the needful. They had actually helped in making Enugu State clean. I promised Her Excellency the First Lady that we will not relent. We will keep pushing to remain that role model state,” she assured.
Reacting to this remarkable feat, WOSCONET, in a statement signed by its Acting President, Comrade Mrs. Ezeaku Patience Uche-Udo, praised Mrs. Mbah for being a shining example of purposeful leadership and a beacon of inspiration to Nigerian women. The statement read:
“The Women Support Women Community Network (WOSCONET) heartily congratulates the wife of the Governor of Enugu State, Her Excellency Mrs Nkechinyere Ihuoma Mbah, on this outstanding achievement that has once again placed Enugu State on the path of national honour. Her unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability, cleanliness, and community well-being has brought pride to mothers, daughters, and sisters across Nigeria. This N100 million award is not just a recognition of environmental excellence; it is a testament to the values of hard work, dedication, and visionary leadership that the wife of the Governor represents. We salute her courage, her passion, and her ability to complement the transformational agenda of His Excellency, Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, whose administration has continued to redefine governance in Enugu State. WOSCONET pledges its support to the Mbah administration in driving women’s inclusion, sustainable development, and a greener, cleaner Nigeria.”
WOSCONET further congratulated the Enugu State Government for its role in championing policies and practices that secured the award, noting that the recognition was a victory not only for the government but for every citizen of Enugu who has embraced the culture of environmental responsibility.
The group urged other states to emulate Enugu’s example, stressing that the fight for a greener Nigeria is a collective responsibility that requires the active participation of households, communities, and institutions. It described the Renewed Hope Initiative Green Nigeria Challenge as a timely intervention to tackle issues of desertification, climate change, and waste management while promoting civic responsibility.
