When asked what she would do differently to solve the issue of plastic pollution and poor waste management in Nigeria if she were in a position to do so, Lauretta Boniface, Executive Director of the Ecocykle Development Foundation (EDF), said she would involve more young people in the conversation.

“Because as young people, we have innovations and creativity in our hearts,” she continued, reinforcing her belief that putting them at the centre of the discussion can create significant change.

Speaking on Saturday, June 21, 2025, in Uke, a rural community in Nasarawa State, where she led a group of stakeholders as part of her organisation’s efforts to commemorate 2025 World Environment Day, Boniface revealed that the purpose of their visit was to conduct a one-day programme to raise awareness and build women’s capacity to turn plastic waste into useful products such as handbags, shoes and earrings.

The issue of plastic pollution continues to be a serious threat to both human and environmental health on a global scale. Nigeria is not an exception to this alarming crisis, as numerous studies have shown that the country is the second-largest plastic polluter in the world, after India.

With this understanding, it is evident that EDF is progressing well in its mission to empower communities, particularly women and young people, by demonstrating that waste can generate income and create livelihoods.

The event’s theme, “Plastics to Creative Crafts in Communities”, exemplifies the organisation’s unending ambition to provide solutions that will put an end to the age of plastic contamination in the country and beyond.

In response to the programme’s theme, the EDF’s executive director stated that it was inspired by previous projects her organisation has undertaken, such as recycling plastics to create interlocking tiles and furniture. It is also to expand into other eco-friendly areas that can be recycled using plastic, such as paper bags, wristwatches, and handbands, as well as jewellery, which women are particularly concerned about due to fashion.

“This is what inspired the focus – training them on what they already have their interests in,” Boniface added, to illustrate how the problem can be tackled, as plastic was initially introduced to address packaging issues, rather than the devastating consequences it has since caused.

In addition to raising awareness and empowering communities to address the problems caused by plastic pollution, she urged public and private sector stakeholders to work together to implement existing policies and ensure that new ones resonate with and suit the needs of the people – rather than “copy and paste”, as has been seen in many cases – to help them collectively tackle this environmental threat.

Civic education about responsible plastic use and management helps people understand and deal with the effects of the climate disaster while also giving them the knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes they need to be change agents. According to the environmental advocate, it is fundamental to educate the public about the detrimental effects of plastic pollution because everyone is just addressing their daily issues and is unaware of the numerous global solutions.

“So, bringing this type of programme to local communities, as we have done in Uke, is also about raising awareness and empowering them to understand global issues so they can adopt and domesticate these concepts,” she explained, to ensure that their actions support sustainability.

Muhammad Isa Bello, Director General of the Nasarawa State Waste Management and Sanitation Authority (NASWAMSA), thanked EDF and the French Embassy for bringing the programme to his state, emphasising that the beneficiaries will be able to work for themselves due to the knowledge they have gained.

He went on to say that the Nasarawa state government is developing a plan to cooperate with interested partners such as the Dangote Group to collect plastic garbage for proper processing, create jobs, and reduce crime in society.

“Today is one of my happiest days to witness this in Uke, to show our people’s talent; I highly appreciate it,” he said, vowing that the government will do everything in its power to assist individuals who have been trained in these talents for sustainability.

According to Mr. Emmanuel Obinna Nweze, Programme Director for the Ecosteward Foundation (EHF), the event is significant because it addresses two major issues: plastic pollution and empowering women and young people to overcome poverty.

Nweze explained in his presentation titled “Rethinking Plastic Packaging and Pollution Issues in Nigeria” that the issue of plastic pollution is quite broad because it impacts not only the environment but also human health, social justice, and other factors.

“So, if we don’t take some of these issues very critically, it is something that is going to be a menace to the community and country at large,” he stated.

Labaran Gero, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, expressed her satisfaction that the information she and other members of the community have gained will help them improve their financial situation and support their families.

“We are very happy for their coming here today to enlighten and empower us on how to stand on our feet,” she said, promising to share her newly learnt knowledge with other members of her family and community at large.

Every year, World Environment Day (WED) is observed to call global attention to the myriad concerns confronting the environment. Teaching people how to turn plastic waste into wealth, as EDF and the Embassy of France have done in the Uke village, is completely consistent with the theme of this year’s event, “Ending Global Plastic Pollution”, to safeguard the ecosystem.