World Environment Day: ‘Volunteers Clean Up 4,507.8kg of Waste’

Nestlé Nigeria and its coalition partners have concluded the 2026 World Environment Day community sensitisation and clean up campaign across 12 locations nationwide, mobilising 424 volunteers who recovered 4,507.8 kilogrammes of solid waste and 48.2 kilogrammes of recyclable materials.

The exercise, which took place in Lagos, Abuja, Agbara, Jos, Kano, Enugu, Awka, Ota, Abaji, Sagamu, Port Harcourt and Ibadan, brought together volunteers, community members and stakeholders in a coordinated effort aimed at promoting environmental stewardship and responsible waste management.

According to African Clean Up Initiative (ACI) and the Recyclers Association of Nigeria (RAN), the recovered waste was channelled through appropriate recycling and disposal pathways, helping to reduce waste leakage into the environment and improve the cleanliness of public spaces.

Speaking on the initiative, Lead Corporate Communications, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Nestlé Nigeria, Victoria Uwadoka, said the success of the campaign underscored the importance of collective action in addressing environmental challenges.

“Environmental progress is most sustainable when communities see themselves as active participants rather than observers. What encouraged us most this year was not only the volume of waste recovered, but the willingness of volunteers, partners and community members to work together towards a shared goal.

“Lasting environmental progress depends on that sense of collective ownership, and it is often through small actions taken together that meaningful change begins,” she said.

The nationwide campaign was driven by Nestlé Cares volunteers, the company’s employee volunteering programme, alongside volunteers from 15 organisations that formed a coalition unveiled ahead of World Environment Day.

At the Abuja activation, the minister of environment was represented by the director of the Pollution Control and Environmental Health Department of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Mrs Adeola Omotunde, who stressed the need for sustained collaboration in tackling environmental issues.

“Addressing environmental challenges requires consistent action at all levels. Initiatives such as this demonstrate how government, private sector and communities can work together to drive responsible environmental practices and deliver real impact,” she stated.

Also speaking, the representative of the country manager of the National Plastics Action Partnership (NPAP), Mrs Esther Chibueyin Fagbo, described plastic pollution as a challenge that requires collective solutions.

“Nigeria’s plastic pollution challenge requires bold, collaborative action, and this initiative demonstrates the value of bringing together communities, partners and the private sector around a shared goal. We are proud to have supported this effort and look forward to continuing our collaboration to advance circular economy solutions that create environmental and economic value,” she said.

The initiative was implemented through a multi stakeholder framework involving government institutions, regulators, industry platforms, development partners and recyclers to ensure alignment with national environmental priorities.