Environmental activists and climate change advocates have called for urgent and coordinated action to tackle Nigeria’s growing plastic pollution crisis, describing it as one of the greatest environmental threats facing the country today.
The call was made at a webinar hosted by Unity Bank to mark this year’s World Environment Day, with the theme “Ending Plastic Pollution.”
Guest speakers, including leading waste management entrepreneurs and environmental activists, highlighted the alarming volume of plastic waste in Nigeria.
Sunday Kolawole Sholanke, Co-founder/CEO of PETsPoint Recycling Nigeria, estimated that Nigeria generates about 596 million metric tonnes of waste annually, with 88% of it neither reclaimed nor recycled.
He emphasized that poor waste management culture, low public awareness, and lack of community collection infrastructure are major factors aggravating the plastic waste crisis.
Sholanke urged the financial services sector to be more proactive in addressing plastic pollution, calling on banks to invest in green financing by increasing access to affordable credit for green businesses and eco-friendly initiatives.
Omoh Alokwe, Co-founder/CEO of Street Waste Company Limited, emphasized the role of regulators in strengthening enforcement and updating policy frameworks to reduce harmful practices that fuel the global plastic crisis.
Unity Bank’s Executive Director, Risk Management, Usman Abdulkadir, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to sustainability, highlighting the importance of integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into its risk frameworks and sustainability agenda.
Ibukun Coker, Head of Strategy and Innovation at Unity Bank Plc, emphasized the bank’s commitment to sustainable practices and environmental protection, highlighting the role of the financial sector in driving meaningful change.
The webinar offered a platform for robust dialogue around sustainable actions and innovative solutions that can mitigate the escalating threat of plastic pollution and promote environmental protection.
Unity Bank has consistently championed environmental causes, including its annual Earth Day partnerships with non-profits and grassroots reforestation initiatives.
Comment here