By Ayomide Otitoju
Leading telecommunications company, Airtel Nigeria, has concluded its 2025 World Environment Week activities with a large-scale market cleanup at Elegushi Model Market in Jakande, Lekki, Lagos, under the campaign theme “Ending Plastic Pollution.”
The cleanup, which took place in collaboration with Ecobarter Company, a social enterprise promoting the circular economy, formed part of Airtel’s broader #UnPlasticAfrica campaign. The initiative spanned six states and mobilized Airtel employees, government stakeholders, community leaders, and market participants in a unified push to combat plastic waste.
At the Elegushi market, Airtel staff and volunteers removed significant volumes of plastic waste while sensitizing traders and shoppers on the environmental and health implications of plastic pollution. To promote sustainable practices, Airtel distributed waste-sorting bins, parasols, and reusable shopping totes branded with the #UnPlasticAfrica message.
Speaking at the event on behalf of Airtel Nigeria’s CEO, Dinesh Balsingh, the company’s Director of Corporate Communications and CSR, Femi Adeniran, stressed the importance of community participation in environmental protection.
“True environmental care starts with action—keeping our surroundings clean and ensuring plastic waste does not enter our waterways. The Elegushi market community has shown inspiring leadership in embracing this initiative. We believe this will spark broader change across Nigeria,” he said.
Responding on behalf of the market leadership, Elizabeth Afolabi, Secretary of the Elegushi Model Market Traders’ Association, expressed gratitude to Airtel and the volunteers. She noted that the initiative had improved market sanitation and pledged to sustain the efforts.
“We are thankful to Airtel Nigeria and all volunteers. This effort has truly made our market cleaner, and we promise to continue from where you have stopped,” she said.
The clean-up campaign, which kicked off on June 4 with an employee seminar led by Mr. Balsingh, also took place in Bodija Market (Oyo), Oba Market (Edo), Wuse Market (Abuja), Artisan Market (Enugu), and Yankaba Market (Kano), before concluding in Lagos.
