In commemoration of the 2025 World Environment Day, a determined coalition of students, staff and environmental enthusiasts fanned out across the University of Lagos (UNILAG) campus on Thursday, June 5, 2025, armed with gloves and reusable bags. Their mission was simple: to demonstrate that environmental sustainability is action and not flowery words.
The event, organized by UNILAG Green Hub in partnership with the Society for Ecological Restoration transformed World Environment Day from a symbolic observance into a powerful demonstration of grassroots action.
An Associate Professor of Zoology at UNILAG and Director-at-Large of the Society for Ecological Restoration, Dr. Excellence Akeredolu, delivered a keynote address that set the tone for the day.
“Every plastic bottle we remove today represents potential lives saved in our waterways,” Dr. Akeredolu told the gathered volunteers.
He did not gloss over the alarming realities: 86% of sea turtle species now ingest plastic debris, while microplastics have infiltrated 93% of bottled water worldwide. Perhaps most startling was his revelation that plastic production devours 6% of global oil consumption, a hidden driver of climate change rarely discussed in mainstream environmental debates.
Armed with these sobering facts, 87 participants were thereafter divided into 12 specialized teams, each targeting critical zones. At the Lagoon waterfront, where discarded bottles and food wrappers choked the shoreline, volunteers worked methodically to restore the natural habitat. Near academic buildings, teams cleared pedestrian routes of plastic fragments, while in residential areas and the bustling “Indomie Bridge” route, the clean-up doubled as an impromptu public awareness campaign, with curious onlookers stopping to ask questions.
The campaign employed innovative tactics that elevated it beyond a typical clean-up. A plastic waste audit system meticulously categorized each piece of collected debris, transforming trash into valuable research data. Meanwhile, a competitive points system injected energy into the effort, with teams vying to collect both the highest volume and the most hazardous items. That strategy yielded 37% single-use beverage containers and 18% dangerous plastic shards with chemical residues.
By the time they were done, their collective effort had harvested 102 kilograms (kg) of plastic waste – a tangible feat in the global fight for environmental sustainability. The transformation was undeniable. Five key campus areas stood visibly cleaner.
As a follow-up, organizers have proposed monthly “Green Patrols” to maintain momentum, along with plans to install smart waste bins and integrate environmental modules into the general studies curriculum. Most ambitiously, they are pursuing public-private partnerships to transform collected waste into valuable resources rather than landfill fodder.
But the real impact, organizers noted, was measured in changed perspectives. A post-event survey revealed that 94% of participants had gained a deeper understanding of plastic pollution’s ripple effects, while 82% pledged to reduce their personal plastic consumption. Perhaps most promising was that three-quarters of volunteers expressed interest in joining UNILAG’s Sustainability Committee, a testament to the event’s success in sparking lasting engagement.
With 102 kilograms (kg) of plastic diverted from ecosystems and 87 minds newly awakened to environmental stewardship, UNILAG’s World Environment Day initiative had achieved what all successful movements do: turn awareness into action, and action into a promise for continued progress.
Report: Isaiah Kumuyi
Photography: Michael Joshua
