The United Nations Development Programme’s Global Environmental Facility Small Grant Programme has called on Nigeria to start imagining a society without plastics. National Coordinator Ibironke Olubamise encouraged young Nigerians to develop creative approaches that would help the nation move away from its dependence on plastic materials.
Olubamise also appealed to government bodies, corporations, and citizens to launch initiatives aimed at reducing and eventually ending plastic consumption. She pointed out that plastics remain widespread around the world, making it crucial to find ways to manage and reuse them to avoid waste that endangers human health.
Speaking at a plastic waste solutions event held in Abuja on Wednesday, Olubamise invited young people to think about upstream strategies—interventions that prevent plastic waste before it is created. She noted that downstream methods, which deal with what happens after plastic is already in use, are also vital since many companies continue manufacturing plastic products.
“You might also want to consider downstream approaches—actions we take once plastic has been produced. That is equally important because many firms are still involved in plastic manufacturing,” she said. “Globally, plastic remains a part of nearly every aspect of our daily lives. So I urge you to keep working and strive to identify workable solutions.”
She added, “You never know what opportunities might emerge, so I want to thank the organizers and all of you taking part, particularly those who are actively engaged.”