More than 60,000 pupils from 100 primary schools across Lagos State have recovered over one million used MILO wrappers as part of the MILO Elevate Recycling Initiative, a sustainability programme organized to commemorate World Environment Day 2026.
The initiative combined environmental education with a school-based recycling competition, encouraging pupils to actively participate in waste recovery while learning about responsible waste management, recycling practices, and circular economy principles.
According to Nestlé Nigeria, the programme is an extension of MILO’s long-standing commitment to youth development. For over 26 years, the brand has promoted grassroots sports development, and through the Elevate Recycling Initiative, it is expanding its impact by fostering environmental awareness and sustainability habits among children.
Speaking during the awards ceremony held to mark World Environment Day, the Category Manager for MILO at Nestlé Nigeria Plc, Gilbert Tweneboah-Koduah, said the initiative was designed to help children develop values and behaviours that contribute positively to society.
“At MILO, we believe that nurturing children includes helping them build the values, habits and mindset needed to thrive and make a positive contribution to society. Through the Elevate Recycling Initiative, we are encouraging children to understand that small everyday actions can create meaningful environmental impact,” he said.
He added that just as the brand has inspired generations of sports champions, it is also committed to helping raise future climate champions.
Also commenting on the programme, the Deputy Director of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Stephen Avoseh, said schools provide an effective platform for promoting environmental responsibility among children and their communities.
“Implementing this initiative through schools creates an opportunity for children to learn about environmental responsibility and share these lessons with their families and communities. Schools play an important role in building lasting awareness and positive environmental habits,” he stated.
The impact of the initiative was reflected in the experiences of participating pupils. One of the pupils, Treasure John, said the programme helped her understand the consequences of improper waste disposal, including environmental pollution and flooding, while encouraging her to adopt more responsible waste management practices.
In a practical demonstration of recycling and circularity, Rotaract District 9112 partnered with the initiative to upcycle the recovered wrappers into 1,013 reusable items, including school bags, lunch bags, and pencil cases. The items were donated to participating schools and presented as rewards to top-performing pupils.
Nestlé Nigeria said the success of the initiative reinforces its belief that environmental education and responsible waste management can contribute significantly to building a circular economy.
The programme also aligns with the company’s broader sustainability agenda aimed at promoting cleaner and more sustainable communities through positive environmental behaviours.
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