2018 is the year of the biggest civic action in the World. On September 15, millions of volunteers around the globe will come together and clean up millions of tons of trash on the World Cleanup Day 2018. For the first time ever, Nigeria will be a part of this global movement by joining over 150 other countries and 20 million citizens around the globe to organize a national cleanup in all the 36 states of the Federation on a single day.
World Bank data shows that households globally generate solid waste of approximately 1.3 billion tonnes every year, and this is expected to increase to about 2.2 billion tonnes by 2025. While poor waste management not only lead to long term environmental damage, short term effects in Nigeria also include seasonal flooding, spread of diseases, and risks of injury and poisoning due to air, water or soil pollution.
Backed by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Let’s Do it! commences World Cleanup Day Campaign this January with the awareness drive on “trash blindness” aimed at educating Nigerians on the dangers of unclean environment and indiscriminate garbage disposal. Activities will climax on September 15, 2018, with the World Cleanup Day, when active citizens unite in action against the global trash problem.
According to the Country Leader, Let’s Do It! Nigeria, Olumide Coker,
“‘Trash blindness’ is the single biggest obstacle to creating cleaner communities. Nigerians have grown so accustomed to trash that we no longer notice it nor acknowledge its negative effects. Simply opening our people’s eyes and minds to the problem is the beginning of the fight to clean up the world we live in.”
Let’s Do it! Nigeria are organizers of World Cleanup Day in the country, supported by JCI Nigeria, ACI and others, while volunteers are currently being recruited from across the nation in order to engage and inspire 5% of the population to take active roles towards the accomplishment of this ambitious goal of cleaning up the world on a single day.
According to 2018 National President, JCI Nigeria, Rasheed Balogun, “World Cleanup Day is a wake up call for everyone in the whole world. It is an opportunity to showcase how young people can take action towards making our environment better. This collaboration between JCI and Lets’ Do it! Foundation is our chance to unite all of society in fighting against illegal waste disposal and creating sustainable impact.”
