Zero Waste Day: Senate Backs Moves To Engage 30m Youths By 5GEE Ecocitizen Campaign

In celebration of the International Day of Zero Waste 2025, Nigeria is set to showcase the 5GEE Ecocitizen campaign aimed at engaging over 30 million youths across more than 8,000 electoral wards in the country.

The initiative, which enjoys the support of the Senate, seeks to mobilise more than 10 million community Eco-citizen Marshalls and establish six Green Zones along with 8,000 EcoHubs to serve as local centers for innovation and action.

The Lead Climate Finance and Circular Economy Advisor for Africa Ecocitizen and Circular Economy festival, Mr. Victor Wilkinson Agih, in a statement, explained that by empowering over 30 million youths and mobilising millions of volunteers, the initiatives nurture eco-leadership and enhance community resilience.

He further stated that with ambitious targets such as engaging 30 million eco-citizens and launching multi-million-dollar marketplace revenue streams, the collaboration paves the way for sustainable job creation and innovative green finance solutions.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Climate Change and Ecology, Senator Seriake Dickson, who applauded the initiative, stated that the 5GEE zero waste advocacy mainstreams SDG 12 as the economic engine of growth for Nigeria, uniting diverse sectors and communities under one visionary goal—a zero-waste future.

He assured of his commitment to sustainability of the initiative, which is not just about reducing waste but about reinventing the economy and safeguarding the environment for future generations.

For Senator Ireti Heebah Kingibe, deputy chairperson, Senate Committee on Climate Change and Ecology, she said: “At this pivotal moment, the 5GEE Ecocitizen festival has the potential to sparks a grassroots circular economy revolution that fuses bold policy with relentless community action. We are turning the tide on environmental degradation and setting the stage for a thriving, circular economy. This multiindustry Ecocitizen festival bridges policy and practice, turning environmental challenges into green jobs opportunities for all Nigerians.”

Agih, who spoke in the same vein, noted: “Integrating the GreenSpree Plastic Lottery within the 5GEE Initiative is unleashing a paradigm shift in waste management. By reimagining waste as an asset, we are pioneering a new model for climate finance and circular economy innovation that benefits every Nigerian.

“Our aim is to craft a blueprint for a resilient, circular economy where environmental integrity and prosperity go hand in hand.”