climate change continues to affect several communities across the world and exposes more people to hunger, poverty, increased health challenges, and climate-induced disasters, man continues to pollute the environment which further increases global warming and exacerbates the impacts of climate change.
Nigeria generates an estimated thirty-two million tons of solid waste per year, one of the highest amounts in Africa. Of that figure, plastic constitutes 2.5 million tons.
According to the World Bank, Nigeria is expected to generate approximately 72.46 million tons by 2025 due to rapid population growth.
To address waste Management in Nasarawa (North-Central Nigeria) an Environmentalist and founder of Ecocykle a youth-led Social Enterprise that promotes a sustainable environment Aliyu Umar Sadiq launched the Smart Mobile Bins (SMB), an eco-friendly waste collection cart that mitigates air pollution and enhances the efficiency of informal waste collectors while addressing the waste management needs of low-income communities.
“The SMBs are environmentally friendly because the bodies are fully covered, addressing the problem of air pollution and garbage water drop-off that is commonly experienced during waste transportation from point of collection to point of disposal.”
Workers who push and operate these SMBs across neighborhood communities are trained and properly equipped with Personally Protective Equipment (PPE) to strengthen safety and personal hygiene while assisting with waste management challenges in operating communities, Aliyu said.
COMMUNITY IMPACT
Over the last 3 years of His active engagement, he has impacted over 3,000 youths.
“In 2019, I led a team of five hundred students for the first-ever campus climate rally at the University of Abuja Nigeria’s Capital, requesting the inculcation of climate change education into the school’s curriculum. I also launched the first-ever Citizens Climate Lobby campus club in Africa, empowering over 50 students with lobbying skills to influence climate change and environmental policies in their communities.
VISION FOR THE FUTURE
My vision is to foster the creation of innovative solutions that will be strategic toward mitigating the emission of greenhouse gases and advancing economically viable climate change adaptation strategies capable of creating green jobs for women and youths, especially in local communities within Nigeria and beyond Says Aliyu.
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