Olumide Coker, the Country Leader of Let’s Do It Nigeria, is leading the charge against plastic pollution through grassroots action, community mobilization, and collaboration with both local and international partners. In an exclusive interview, he laid out the scale of Nigeria’s plastic waste problem and the solutions being driven at the community level.
“My name is Olumide Coker, and I serve as the Country Leader for Let’s Do It Nigeria, a civic-led environmental movement committed to tackling waste pollution, particularly plastic waste, through grassroots mobilization, advocacy, and sustainable action,” he said.
A Global Movement with Local Impact
Let’s Do It! World began in Estonia in 2008 with 50,000 people cleaning up the entire country in just five hours. The model has since expanded to over 180 countries. Nigeria joined the movement in 2017, and since then, Let’s Do It Nigeria has expanded its footprint from just two states to 30, including the Federal Capital Territory.
“We have successfully organized World Clean Up Day in Nigeria since 2018, collaborating with more than 200 partners across 30 States,” Coker added.
Grassroots Efforts Driving Change
Let’s Do It Nigeria has demonstrated that sustained community action can create real change. According to Coker:
“At Let’s Do It Nigeria, we are deeply invested in community-driven solutions. Our grassroots efforts include:
Organizing nationwide clean-up events, particularly during World Cleanup Day, mobilizing thousands of volunteers to remove plastic waste from streets, waterways, and public spaces.
Using digital tools to identify plastic pollution hotspots, enabling targeted interventions.
In partnership with local recyclers, incentivizing communities to collect and sort plastic waste for recycling.
Establishing environmental clubs in schools to educate young Nigerians on the dangers of plastic pollution and the importance of sustainable practices.”
Flagship Environmental Programs
The organization runs several innovative programs aimed at reducing plastic pollution and promoting sustainable practices:
World Cleanup Day: Engaging 5% of Nigeria’s population to remove mismanaged waste in a single day.
Street Conference: A quarterly hybrid initiative that teaches waste management and behavior change through a four-phase model.
Good Deed for the Environment: Corporate CSR and team bonding programs that educate staff on the 5Rs; Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Stakeholders’ Forum & Circular Economy Seminar: Training events across Nigeria to discuss recycling, climate change, and sustainable waste practices.
World Earth Day: A global campaign, in partnership with Earth Day Network and Let’s Do It World.
Digital Clean Up Day: Encouraging digital hygiene by deleting unnecessary files to reduce carbon footprint.
Community Responsibility and Success Stories
Coker emphasizes the critical role of individuals and communities:
“Individuals and communities are the backbone of the fight against plastic pollution. Their roles include:
Choosing reusable over single-use plastics, and properly sorting waste at the household level.
Raising awareness within their neighborhoods and holding local authorities accountable for waste management.
Volunteering in local clean-up drives and supporting recycling initiatives.
Developing community-based solutions such as eco-bricks, composting, and upcycling plastic waste into useful products.”
In 2024, World Cleanup Day in Nigeria saw significant achievements:
139,756.35 kg of waste collected in total.
2,891.75 kg of plastic waste recovered.
2,687 bags of trash gathered.
Participation from 3,074 volunteers and 986 children.
Recognized performance from local champions such as:
1st Place: Bariga Environmental Team/Green Janitors Bariga – 2,887 kg
2nd Place: Plogging Nigeria, Ilorin Kwara – 2,635.84 kg
3rd Place: Zorpluz Cleaning Services – 1,000 kg
The group has also earned global accolades:
“We earned the ‘Widest Media Reach Award’ at the 2020 Let’s Do It World conference, along with the ‘Best Media Engagement Award’ at the 2022 Let’s Do It World conference,” Coker noted.
Pushing for Greater Public Awareness
Let’s Do It Nigeria believes in a layered approach to public awareness and education.
“Improving awareness requires a multi-pronged approach:
Integrating Environmental Education into school curricula at all levels.
Leveraging Media and Influencers to amplify messages on plastic pollution and sustainable living.
Community Workshops and Town Halls to engage citizens directly and provide practical knowledge.
Public-Private Partnerships to fund and scale awareness campaigns, especially in underserved areas.”
Expectations from the Government
Coker called on the Nigerian government to act decisively in the fight against plastic pollution.
“We expect the government to take a proactive and collaborative stance, including:
Implementing and enforcing bans on single-use plastics and incentivizing alternatives.
Expanding waste management and recycling infrastructure, especially in rural and peri-urban areas.
Funding research and startups focused on sustainable packaging and circular economy models.
Partnering with civil society organizations like ours to co-create solutions and scale impact.”
As Nigeria faces the twin crises of environmental degradation and plastic waste accumulation, grassroots-led efforts such as those by Let’s Do It Nigeria are proving to be both timely and transformational.
