Odenigbo accomplished this feat in just 20 hours and is now aiming to reach his goal of planting 27,000 trees within 24 hours.
His effort is part of an ambitious campaign to set a new world record for the most trees planted by an individual in a single day.
However, it must be noted that the organisation will still assess Odenigbo’s attempt to break a Guinness World Record. While he has planted 23,060 trees in one hour in pursuit of his target of 27,000, this achievement is not yet officially recognised.
If his attempt meets the required criteria, Guinness World Records will certify it, making the record official.
According to a team member who spoke with SaharaReporters earlier on Friday, the record-setting attempt began on Thursday, June 5, shortly after 4 p.m. and is scheduled to conclude on Friday, June 6, shortly after 4 p.m.
SaharaReporters previously reported that Odenigbo’s effort, coinciding with World Environment Day, is taking place at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Agbani, Enugu State.
His goal is to plant 27,000 trees within a day, surpassing the current world record of 23,060 trees held by Canadian environmentalist Antoine Moses.
According to Odenigbo, the challenge goes beyond breaking a world record. It aims to raise awareness, inspire action, and make a tangible contribution to combating climate change.
He explained that the project seeks to highlight the impact of individual commitment to environmental restoration and to encourage others, particularly in a country grappling with severe deforestation and escalating climate risks, to take meaningful action.
The tree-planting effort will focus on Moringa oleifera, a fast-growing, drought-resistant species valued for both its ecological benefits and nutritional properties.
The choice of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) as the venue aligns with the institution’s ongoing commitment to green initiatives.
In a letter granting approval to use a four-hectare site for the event, ESUT’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, praised Odenigbo’s project as aligning with the university’s Green Revolution and Environmental Sustainability Programme.
The university also expressed strong support for the initiative, noting its alignment with the Enugu State Government’s climate action plan. It established conditions for the project, including the maintenance of the newly planted trees for a minimum of three months and the securing of all necessary permits.
Odenigbo’s application for the record was officially accepted by Guinness World Records on January 14, 2025, under the title “Most trees planted by an individual in 24 hours.” The reference number for the application is 241216003153mtpb.
The acceptance came with a detailed guideline pack specifying the rules for a valid record attempt. All trees must be planted within a single defined location, with each tree planted in a hole dug at the time of planting.
Digging machinery is not allowed, and the planting process must be thoroughly documented through video, photographs, and witness logs.
Guinness World Records mandates the continuous presence of at least two independent witnesses during the attempt, one of whom must be a qualified specialist, such as a botanist or arborist.
Witnesses must rotate every four hours, and the final count will depend heavily on the accuracy and integrity of the logbook and supporting evidence. The attempt must run uninterrupted for 24 hours, during which rest breaks are permitted, but the clock will not pause under any circumstances.
Odenigbo previously acknowledged the magnitude of the challenge but remained optimistic. For him, the attempt is more than a personal milestone—it is a statement of urgency in the face of an environmental crisis and an invitation to Nigerians to adopt sustainability in their everyday lives.
His decision to stage the event on World Environment Day further underscores the symbolic weight of the project and reflects a broader commitment to global climate advocacy.
“On 5th of June 2025 (World Environmental Day), I will be attempting the Guinness World Record for the Most Trees Planted by an Individual in 24 hours,” he told SaharaReporters in May.
“The aim is not just to break a record, but to make a significant input towards the combat against climate change.”
