Unite4EarthDay: Groups raise awareness on environmental sustainability

A Non-Profit organization, SustyVibes, focused on promoting sustainability among youths, recently collaborated with UPS Nigeria to present the Unite4EarthDay Campaign.

This initiative was launched as part of the commemoration of Earth Day 2024, aiming to raise awareness about environmental sustainability within the wider community.

The campaign, funded by the UPS Foundation, was an initiative aimed at building the capacity and knowledge of people, local communities, and Nigerians to advocate for sustainable waste management practices such as plastic reduction, transition to sustainable alternatives, and promotion of the circular economy. 

According to SustyVibes Head of Project, Sonia Ugwunna, the project began with a month-long online advocacy campaign that leveraged interactive media content and quizzes to advance knowledge of the dangers of plastic pollution, increase access to recycling opportunities, and promote eco-friendly lifestyle practices among young people.

Ugwunna noted that the team also initiated an internal campaign across UPS branches in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt where staff participated in a recycling challenge to collect the highest volume of plastic waste.  

The campaign expanded its outreach efforts by organising street conference events in diverse communities, including the Odo-Eran community in Bariga, Lagos, the Waterlines area in Port Harcourt, and the bustling Area 1 Shopping Complex in Abuja. 

“These events served as platforms to engage with a wide range of people, including children, residents, and traders. Through interactive sessions and informative discussions, attendees were sensitized to the significance of embracing healthy and sustainable waste management practices. By empowering them with the knowledge and practice needed to address environmental challenges, the campaign fostered a culture of environmental stewardship and collective action,” she added.

The clean-up activities included spot clearances in targeted areas, advocating for recycling, and facilitating subscription drives to increase community participation. 

According to the Country Manager, UPS Nigeria, Michael Umoh, through this partnership they have also donated plastic collection bins to host communities, providing tangible resources to support recycling efforts in the states. Through exemplary actions and one-on-one engagements, communities are inspired to commit to plastic waste recycling and prioritize environmental sanitation, fostering a sense of empowerment and ownership for lasting change toward a cleaner, more sustainable environment.

The Unite4EarthDay campaign resulted in increased awareness of over 1000 young Nigerians who engaged with informative content on the problem of plastic pollution. The cleanup activities also recovered 137 kg of plastic waste and over 200kg of municipal solid waste which were transported by our recycling and waste management partners. 

The campaign also empowered three communities across Nigeria to embrace sustainable waste management practices via the provision of recycling bins and matching to recycling organizations. Furthermore, we provided opportunities for over 200 young Nigerians to engage in practical environmental advocacy activities, thereby increasing their knowledge, passion, and commitment to environmental sustainability.