Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative (CYFI), sponsored by the United States Consulate and Access Bank, has launched green clubs in Lagos secondary schools to eradicate plastic pollution and promote environmental sustainability among students.

The CYFI Environment team, comprising Nelson Mfon, Baliqees Salaudeen, Oluwatosin Ogunlana, Temidayo Enetanya and Lawrence Akpoterai, in partnership with Ecobarter, Green with Grin, She Leads Climate Action, Craft the Trash and Climagraphy, said the initiative was to commemorate the World Environment Day and to sustain participation of students in proper waste disposal.

Assistant Director, Sanitation Service Department, Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Toyin Oguntola, described the indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste as a menace that requires collective effort of government and the people to tackle.

“The major polluters, which are the companies that produce and package their foods and beverages with plastics, will have to pay or be forced to find alternatives,” she said

Akpoterai said the initiative was brought to the community due to plastic pollution and an opportunity to equip the students to reduce plastic pollution within Orile Agege community.

He urged governments to create and implement policies that favour household, schools and businesses in sorting waste for improvement.

Executive Director, International Climate Change Development Initiative, Olumide Idowu, educated the students on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) number 13 with a focus on climate action.

“Every waste you see now is money, but our attitude towards the environment is very key. The essence of giving back is recycling. Children must know that everything can be recycled and reused, not just pet bottles,” he said.

Meanwhile, as a result of the training given to the students on waste recycling to create wealth, a JSS1 student from Eko Junior College, Goodluck Okon, created a sitting stool from pet bottles, cartons, nails and other wastes.

Okon said he learned creativity from the training, adding that though he had always loved to create, the initiative pushed him to be more creative.

Another student, Treasure Omasoro, said the training enlightened her to know more about climate action and how to turn waste to money.