On April 22, 2025, Calabar, Cross River State, marked World Earth Day with a significant environmental initiative tagged “Calabar Zero Plastic Plogging” activity aimed at combating plastic pollution and fostering a culture of environmental sustainability.
The environment initiative organized by De New Calabar Leo Club, the youth affiliate of the New Calabar Lions Club, in collaboration with the Think Cross River Initiative, the Department of Climate Change and Green Economy (Calabar Municipal Government), Calabar Urban Development Authority (CUDA), and key environmental stakeholders including Plogging Nigeria UNICAL, YASIF Nigeria, YALI Cross River, NYSC SDGs-CDs Calabar Municipal, and AIESEC in Calabar.
The initiative also garnered support from various community-based organizations, student groups, and Leo Clubs under Region 4, Calabar.
Plastic waste continues to pose significant threats to public health, urban sanitation, and marine biodiversity. In response, the “Calabar Zero Plastic Plogging” event integrated environmental advocacy with physical activity, mobilizing over 100 volunteers to engage in plastic plogging—a sustainable activity combining jogging with the collection of plastic waste across key locations in Calabar.
The exercise commenced from the Calabar Municipal Council Headquarters, proceeding through strategic city routes to Marian Market, with participants actively collecting and properly disposing of plastic litter. The campaign exemplified the synergy between environmental action and civic engagement, advancing the objectives of Earth Day 2025 under the global theme: “Our Power, Our Planet.” Representing the Cross River State Government, Hon. Edem Darlington, speaking on behalf of the Think Cross River Initiative, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to ecological preservation and sustainable development.
He emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing the mounting challenge of plastic pollution and encouraged the replication of such community-driven models across the state. In a statement delivered on behalf of the Mayor of Calabar Municipality, Miss Racheal Bassey of the Department of Climate Change and Green Economy remarked: “We do not inherit the Earth—we plog it clean for the next generation.
The Calabar Zero Plastic Plogging initiative serves as a timely reminder of our collective responsibility to preserve our environment for future generations. Mayor of Calabar Municipality lead by example actively joins the environmental activity a sustainable steps with strategic impact for a cleaner Earth demonstrating its dedication to restoring and preserving the city’s natural environment .
In his address, Leo Bright Ebuka Nwokeocha, President of De New Calabar Leo Club, noted that the event not only yielded significant amounts of recovered plastic waste but also instilled a deeper sense of environmental awareness, civic responsibility, and the importance of fitness-driven advocacy.
The eco-conscious activity directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly: Goal 11(Sustainable Cities and Communities), Goal 13 (Climate Action) and Goal 14 (Life Below Water).
The “Calabar Zero Plastic Plogging” event stands as a testament to what can be achieved when government, civil society, and the youth collaborate towards a shared vision a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Calabar.
Together, let us protect our planet our paradise Think Cross River and ensure we leave behind a legacy of stewardship, not waste.
