Walk for Nature 2025: Lagos, Let’s Beat Plastic Pollution!
The 19th edition of Nigeria’s flagship environmental advocacy event Walk for Nature took place on Saturday, 1st November 2025, at Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos. The theme “Lagos, Let’s Beat Plastic Pollution!”, reaffirmed the collective urgency of tackling plastic waste in Nigeria’s most populous city.
The event saw over 1,500 environmental advocates, government officials, corporate leaders, students, and citizens gathered at the Multipurpose Hall.
The Walk for Nature is more than an annual event; it is a national environmental movement uniting government, communities, civil society, students, and corporate partners to raise awareness and drive action for a cleaner, healthier, and sustainable environment.
History: The Walk for Nature Movement
Launched nearly two decades ago by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) in partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Walk for Nature has grown into one of Nigeria’s longest-standing public environmental advocacy campaigns. What began as a symbolic awareness walk has evolved into a powerful annual convergence point where:
- Policy meets public participation
- Advocacy meets action
- Government meets citizens
At its heart, the Walk is about raising awareness, sparking behavioral change, and translating environmental advocacy into sustainable practices. As noted in 2024, the event has been observed annually often aligned with World Environment Day themes and other environmental priorities and has expanded both in scale and impact over time.
As the NCF NEC, Hon. Justice (Mrs.) R.I.B. Adebiyi stated during the 2025 rally, “Walk for Nature is not just a festive gathering or a symbolic walk. It is about inspiring sustained community action that leads to long-term environmental impact.”
Walk for Nature Themes Over the Years
Below is a timeline of past Walk for Nature themes, illustrating how the movement has evolved alongside emerging environmental priorities:
| Year | Theme |
| 2016 | Save Wildlife, Save our Heritage |
| 2017 | Cleaner Lagos; The Foundation For Sustainable Ecotourism |
| 2018 | Beat Pollution, Live a Sustainable Lifestyle |
| 2019 | Plastic Pollution: The Enemy of Our Development Agenda |
| 2021 | Conserve Biodiversity; Sustain Humanity |
| 2022 | Only One Eart |
| 2023 | Solutions to Plastic Pollution |
| 2024 | Land Restoration, Desertification & Drought Resilience |
| 2025 | Lagos, Let’s Beat Plastic Pollution! |
Each theme reflects a strategic focus from tackling biodiversity loss, pollution, ecosystem restoration, to plastics mirroring global environmental concerns and local realities.
Why the 2025 Theme Matters
Lagos generates an estimated 13,000 tonnes of waste daily, with about 15% of that roughly 870,000 tonnes annually being plastic. Much of this plastic ends up clogging drainage systems, worsening flooding, harming marine life, and entering the food chain.
Plastic pollution isn’t just an environmental problem, it’s a public health and economic challenge, contributing to ecosystem destruction, species loss, and long-term human health risks.
The 2025 Walk came at a particularly critical moment just months after the Lagos State Government banned single-use plastics less than 40 microns, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable waste management.
The theme, “Lagos, Let’s Beat Plastic Pollution!”, reflects a dual responsibility:
- Government enforcement and policy leadership
- Citizen behaviour changes and accountability
As NCF Director General, Dr. Joseph Onoja, noted prior to the event: “Plastic pollution is not just an environmental issue; it is a lifestyle challenge that affects our health, our cities, and our future.”
The event reflects a clarion call on residents, policymakers, students, and organizations to reaffirm their roles in turning policy into everyday practice.
A Strategic Focus: Youth, Education, and Engagement
A defining feature of the 2025 Walk was its location within a tertiary institution (YABATECH) a deliberate choice aimed at empowering the youth. With more than 60% of Nigeria’s population under 30, the event prioritized equipping young people with actionable knowledge and a sense of responsibility toward sustainable living.
Prior to the grand finale, the team also organized a motorized campaign to sensitize the school community about the event. It was a unique opportunity to light up the learning environment with music, games, dance and funfair hinged around the central theme, beating plastic pollution. The campaign served as an energized way to connect with the budding youth population speaking a language they resonate with.
During the event, corporate and government representatives emphasized that young people are central to building lasting behavioral change and environmental stewardship across the nation. This blend of advocacy, education, and community engagement ensured that the event went beyond awareness to inspire tangible change.
The NEC Chairman emphasized this point in her keynote address, “If we must build lasting behavior change and preserve Nigeria’s natural heritage, then the best place to begin is with the young.”
The Walk: From YABATECH Through the Heart of Yaba
The 2025 rally began at 7:30 a.m., following guest arrival and registration.
Participants walked through YABATECH – Hussey Road – Herbert Macaulay Road – Murtala Mohammed Road – Montgomery Road – Herbert Macaulay Road – back to YABATECH
The route symbolically passed through some of Lagos’ busiest corridors taking the message of environmental responsibility directly into the public space.
The atmosphere was vibrant yet purposeful. Placards calling for an end to single-use plastics, environmental awareness banners, and coordinated green-themed attire reflected a unified message: sustainability is everyone’s responsibility.
Beyond the Walk: From Awareness to Action
The 2025 edition distinguished itself not only through advocacy but through tangible intervention. During the event, NCF donated six waste bins to Yaba College of Technology, reinforcing practical waste management on campus.
This donation aligns with NCF’s broader conservation education work:
- Over 600 conservation clubs in schools nationwide
- Environmental literacy initiatives
- Recycling and upcycling education
- Youth engagement programs
- Over 20 waste bins previously donated to schools across Lagos
These bins are not merely waste receptacles but represent behavioural change tools.
As the NEC Chairman noted, “If we can change how people think, we can change how they act. If we can change how they act, we can change the future of our environment.”
Partnership: Government, NGO, and Corporate Collaboration
The continued collaboration between NCF, Lagos State Government, and corporate sponsors like Chevron Nigeria Limited demonstrates the effectiveness of multi-stakeholder efforts in environmental advocacy.
This partnership model aligns with global sustainable development goals, particularly SDG 17, which emphasizes partnerships for the goals and the need for coordinated action across sectors.
The Road Ahead: A Call to Action
Walk for Nature 2025 reaffirmed that environmental transformation is a collective journey. As stakeholders and citizens reflect on the event’s message, the central call remains, “Everyone needs to be a conservationist.”
This means making conscious choices, saying no to single-use plastics, reducing waste, recycling, engaging in community clean-ups, and supporting policies that protect our shared environment.
With ongoing collaboration, policy support, and sustained civic engagement, Lagos can continue to lead as a model city for environmental responsibility and sustainable living.
