As climate change, shrinking green spaces and environmental degradation continue to threaten communities around the world, the task of protecting the planet is increasingly falling into the hands of a new generation. Recognising this, the UBA Foundation is going beyond corporate social responsibility to nurture environmentally-responsible champions from the classroom upwards. In line with this, during the recently commemorated 2026 World Environment Day, Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that the foundation, through its Tree Planting for Sustainability Initiative, visited King’s College, Lagos, and CMS Grammar School, Bariga, to plant trees
“The best time to plant a tree was years ago, the next best time is now.” With those words, borrowed from renowned Kenyan environmentalist and Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the UBA Foundation, Bola Atta, delivered a message that resonated deeply with students gathered recently to mark the 2026 World Environment Day.
It was a simple statement, yet one that captured the urgency of a global challenge and the hope that lies in collective action.
Cultivating Environmentally- responsible Students
As the world marked World Environment Day 2026, the UBA Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group, chose to celebrate the occasion not with speeches alone, but with action.
At two of Lagos’ most historic educational institutions, King’s College, Lagos, and CMS Grammar School, Bariga, students, teachers and bank officials came together to plant trees and, perhaps more importantly, cultivate a culture of environmental responsibility among young Nigerians.
The exercise marked the commencement of the Foundation’s 2026 Tree Planting for Sustainability Initiative, a programme designed to promote environmental consciousness among young people and encourage climate-positive behaviour across school communities.
More Than Planting Trees
For many of the students who participated, the event was about more than placing seedlings in the ground. It was a lesson in responsibility, stewardship and the power of small actions.
Observed annually on June 5 and coordinated by the United Nations, World Environment Day remains the world’s foremost platform for environmental awareness and advocacy. The 2026 theme, “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future,” highlights the growing need for societies, governments, institutions and individuals to respond decisively to climate change and environmental degradation.
Against this backdrop, the UBA Foundation’s initiative seeks to ensure that environmental protection is not viewed as an abstract concept but as a practical responsibility that begins with everyday choices.
Speaking during the exercise at CMS Grammar School, Atta described the programme as a strategic investment in future generations.
“We want young people to understand that the environment needs our collective support and protection.”
“Through initiatives like this, we are encouraging the next generation to embrace sustainable practices that will help create healthier communities and a better future for all,” she said.
Why King’s College And CMS Grammar School?
The choice of venue was no coincidence.
Now in its fourth year, the Tree Planting for Sustainability Initiative is designed to instil environmental responsibility in students by integrating sustainability practices into school life and empowering young people to become environmental ambassadors.
According to Atta, the decision to begin this year’s exercise at King’s College and CMS Grammar School reflected the rich history and enduring influence of both institutions.
“These are iconic institutions with deep historical significance. CMS Grammar School is Nigeria’s oldest secondary school, while King’s College has been shaping leaders for more than a century.”
“We wanted schools where these trees will be nurtured and allowed to flourish for generations to come,” she added.
The symbolism was difficult to miss. Just as these schools have produced generations of leaders, the trees planted on their grounds are expected to grow alongside future generations of Nigerians, serving as living reminders of the importance of environmental stewardship.
A Response to a Growing Challenge
The initiative comes at a critical time.
Across Nigeria’s major cities, rapid urbanisation continues to shrink green spaces, replacing vegetation with concrete structures and increasing environmental pressures. Rising temperatures, flooding, pollution and waste management challenges have become familiar realities in many communities.
Against this backdrop, environmental restoration efforts are becoming increasingly important.
For UBA, the tree-planting exercise represents part of a broader commitment to sustainability and responsible corporate citizenship.
UBA’s Group Chief Risk Officer, Awele Ajibola, stressed the importance of proactive environmental stewardship in addressing climate-related risks.
She noted that the initiative reflects the bank’s commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles and its determination to contribute meaningfully to sustainable development across the communities it serves.
Her remarks underscored a growing recognition within the corporate sector that environmental sustainability is no longer optional but essential for long-term economic and social progress.
Taking Environmental Education Beyond the Classroom
One of the most significant aspects of the programme was its focus on education.
Beyond planting trees, students participated in discussions on environmental stewardship, learning practical ways to contribute to a healthier planet. Topics included proper waste disposal, water conservation, recycling and energy efficiency.
The engagement transformed environmental protection from a distant global issue into a personal responsibility. For school administrators, this practical approach offered a valuable extension of classroom learning.
The Principal of CMS Grammar School, Revd. Jacob Ayokunle Ogunyinka, described the exercise as a meaningful complement to students’ academic studies, noting that it reinforces lessons on environmental conservation through direct participation.
Similarly, the Principal of King’s College, Magaji Zachariah, commended the UBA Foundation for selecting the institution and investing in environmental education.
Their reactions reflected a growing understanding that preparing students for the future requires more than academic excellence; it also requires nurturing environmentally conscious citizens capable of responding to emerging global challenges.
Building a Sustainability Movement
The tree-planting exercise forms part of a wider programme of activities organised by the UBA Group to mark World Environment Day 2026.
These initiatives include UBA’s inauguration as a member of the Finance Taskforce for Plastic Action in Nigeria, Green Talk sessions with customers, the launch of Sustainability Clubs in schools, environmental awareness campaigns and a month-long Green Challenge aimed at encouraging responsible environmental behaviour.
Together, these activities represent an effort to build a sustainability movement that extends beyond a single day or event.
As students carefully watered newly planted seedlings and listened to lessons on environmental responsibility, the significance of the moment became clear. The trees may take years to reach maturity, but the ideas planted alongside them could have an even longer-lasting impact.
In a world increasingly defined by environmental uncertainty, the message delivered at King’s College and CMS Grammar School was both simple and powerful: the future is shaped by what people choose to do today.
And as Wangari Maathai’s timeless words remind us, if yesterday offered a missed opportunity, today still offers a chance to begin.
