Michael Odenigbo, a Nigerian climate advocate, has broken the Guinness World Record for the most trees planted by an individual in 24 hours.
Odenigbo planted over 25,000 trees at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Agbani, on June 5-6, 2025, coinciding with World Environment Day.
Odenigbo aimed to plant 27,000 trees in 24 hours using manual methods, surpassing the previous record of 23,060 trees set by Canadian environmentalist Antoine Moses.
The event was hosted on a four-hectare site at ESUT, with the university’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, praising the initiative as part of ESUT’s Green Revolution and Environmental Sustainability Programme.
The trees planted were Moringa oleifera, a fast-growing, drought-resistant species known for its ecological and nutritional value. Guinness World Records guidelines required each tree to be planted in a hole dug at the time of planting without machinery, with thorough documentation and verification by independent witnesses.
Odenigbo’s record attempt has been officially accepted by Guinness World Records, and the evidence will be uploaded for verification. The planted trees must be maintained for a minimum of three months, as per the university’s requirement.
