Over 200 young individuals, led by UNICEF, gathered today at Marina Beach in Cross River for a monumental cleanup initiative aimed at reducing plastic pollution in water bodies.
This action forms part of the Green Rising Initiative, a youth-driven campaign to safeguard the environment and combat the growing threat of plastic waste.
The cleanup was made possible by the support of key partners including UNICEF, GreenRising, GenUnlimited, YPAT, University of Calabar, and others.
The beach cleanup comes as a response to the devastating impact of plastic pollution on marine life and human health.
UNICEF’s WASH Specialist, Enugu Field Office, Mrs. Bolatito Gabriel, said the beach cleanup was a response to the alarming effects of plastic waste, particularly single-use plastics.
According to her, these are major culprits, harming marine ecosystems, entangling marine animals, and leaching harmful chemicals into water bodies.
“One of the biggest sources of plastic in our seas is simply littering. Rubbish left on the beach, refuse dumped in rivers, and waste blown in from streets all contribute to this massive problem,” Gabriel said.
“Single-use plastics like straws, bottles, and bags are a huge contributor, and they’re notoriously difficult to recycle.”
Some of the young volunteers, including students, activists, and local organisation expressed their commitment to addressing this pressing issue head-on.
A 400-level student of the University of Calabar, Department of Public Health, Gift Akoh, noted the importance of keeping the beach clean not only for environmental reasons but also to reduce mosquito breeding grounds, which can affect public health.
“If we can keep the beach clean, it will reduce the way mosquitoes breed here,” she said.
Youth Coordinator for the Nigeria Red Cross Society’s Cross River branch, Christiana Etim, emphasised the significance of changing human attitudes towards the environment to tackle the root causes of climate change.
“We need to be friendly to the environment to protect water habitats. If we don’t, the effects of climate change will only worsen,” she urged.
A Public Health student at the University of Calabar and founder of the Hope Assured Foundation, Joshua Otie, highlighted the importance of raising awareness about the long-term consequences of plastic pollution on both the environment and human health.
“The chemicals in plastic have been linked to the rise of diseases like cancer, and as young people, we are at the forefront of the movement to ensure the world remains habitable for future generations,” Otie stated.
He said the beach cleanup also promotes sustainability, as volunteers were tasked not only with removing plastic waste but also with sorting and recycling materials, contributing to a circular economy.
“We are asking for more of these initiatives that are centered around young people because we are the future leaders of tomorrow. We want to be at the forefront of the change we wish to see,” Otie added.