Airtel Nigeria, a telecommunications company, has reaffirmed its commitment to environmental sustainability with a nationwide campaign to combat plastic pollution.
Airtel made this known in a statement on Friday, June 6, 2025, in Lagos.
It said that the campaign tagged, #UnPlasticAfrica, began on June 3 with mobilising of employees across the company’s six operating regions for a week of education, advocacy, and cleanup activities.
The World Environment Day, the United Nations’ foremost platform for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the environment, is marked on June 5 annually.
The 2025 theme: #BeatPlasticPollution, draws attention to one of the most urgent and pervasive global environmental challenges – plastic waste
Airtel said that its campaign was aimed at promoting sustainable living, in alignment with global efforts to reduce plastic pollution.
Commenting, the Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Dinesh Balsingh, reaffirmed Airtel’s dedication to sustainability.
Balsingh said: “As we invest in Nigeria’s digital future, we are equally committed to protecting the environment that sustains us.
“From AI-powered services that reduce paper use, to partnerships that connect rural areas without environmental disruption, we are embedding sustainability into every layer of our operations.”
Also, Dr Hassan Sanuth, Director of Sanitation Services, Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, emphasised the urgency of addressing the plastic pollution crisis, particularly in urban centres such as Lagos.
He noted that plastic waste was choking the drains, polluting water bodies, and threatening public health.
Sanuth emphasised that every little action counted, with individuals making conscious choices, to organisations taking bold steps collectively to make a significant impact in combating plastic pollution.
He also highlighted the dangers of plastic waste, noting that microplastics had been traced in food, water, and even human blood, hence the need for stronger policies and corporate accountability.
According to the statement, Airtel staff volunteers, in collaboration with local partners, led plastic collection efforts and conducted environmental hygiene training for market vendors and shoppers.
The World Environment Day campaign, nicknamed Earth Fest 2025, was part of Airtel Nigeria’s broader Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Strategy.
Airtel Nigeria’s CSR strategy has continued to integrate environmental stewardship into its organisational practices.
By Funmilola Gboteku