By Abbas Nazil
Eyes on the Environment Initiative (EEI), in partnership with NatureNews, are mobilising residents of Kano for a community cleanup exercise to commemorate the World Cleanup Day 2026 to demand greater public participation in environmental protection.
Other notable partners of EEI in the implementation of the cleanup exercise scheduled for Sunday, September 20, are Eco Radio, Green Foundation, SusLab and Youth Green Hub Kano.
According to the organisers, the cleanup will kick off at the gate of the Kano Zoological Garden, with students, professionals, families, community leaders, businesses, environmental advocates and other concerned citizens expected to participate in the exercise.
The initiative, themed “Strive for 5”, is aimed at encouraging collective environmental action and supporting the global campaign’s target of mobilising five per cent of the world’s population to participate actively in cleanup activities and other actions aimed at protecting the environment.
Abdulmajid Abubakar, Founder and Executive Director of Eyes on the Environment Initiative, said the organisation believes the environment should not be treated as a dumping ground, stressing that protecting it remains a collective responsibility.
According to him, EEI has participated in the global cleanup campaign since 2021, and is joining this year’s campaign in Kano through collaboration with environmental organisations, media platforms and youth-focused groups.
He said the cleanup was not merely about picking up waste, but about bringing people together to take responsibility for their surroundings, reclaim public spaces, increase environmental awareness and encourage lasting changes in the way waste is produced, used and disposed of.
Rasheed Yusuf, Managing Director of NatureNews, commended the initiative and the willingness of the organisations to work together towards fostering a cleaner and more sustainable environment.
Yusuf said the partnership with EEI and other formidable organisations demonstrated the importance of collaboration in addressing environmental challenges and creating greater awareness about responsible waste management.
He expressed optimism that the World Cleanup Day activity would go beyond the physical removal of waste from public spaces by inspiring participants to embrace sustainable practices and take greater responsibility for protecting their environment.
Abubakar expressed concern over the growing volume of plastic waste in Nigeria, particularly single-use plastics, takeaway packs, carrier bags and sachet-water bags, which he said continue to accumulate on streets, in drainage channels, under bridges and across natural environments.
He noted that Nigeria generates an estimated 42 million tonnes of solid waste annually, putting considerable pressure on existing waste-management systems.
Abubakar also cited estimates that about 60 million sachet-water bags are consumed and discarded daily in Nigeria, highlighting the scale of the plastic waste challenge confronting the country.
He urged Kano residents to participate in the cleanup and contribute to creating cleaner and healthier public spaces across the city.
Participants are expected to come with friends and family members, remain active throughout the exercise and stay hydrated by bringing reusable water bottles as part of efforts to make the event environmentally sustainable.
World Cleanup Day originated as a civic movement in Estonia in 2008, when about 50,000 volunteers mobilised to clean the country within five days.
The movement has since grown into a global environmental campaign, with the United Nations General Assembly officially recognising September 20 as World Cleanup Day in 2023.
For EEI and its partners, the Kano exercise is therefore part of a broader global effort to encourage citizens to move beyond concern about environmental degradation and take practical action within their communities.
The organisers said the September 20 exercise provides an opportunity for residents to clean their surroundings, connect with other environmentally conscious citizens, remain physically active and demonstrate that maintaining a clean environment requires sustained collective action.
The organisers have consequently called on all interested residents to converge at the gate of the Kano Zoological Garden on Sunday, September 20, 2026, and join the cleanup exercise as Kano joins communities around the world in marking World Cleanup Day.
