By Peace Udugba
Sterling Bank, in collaboration with Sterling One Foundation, Lagos Waste Management Authority, Sunbeth and other partners, has unveiled plans for a nationwide environmental sanitation campaign tagged The Great Nigeria Cleanup.
The initiative, scheduled for April 25, 2026, is aimed at strengthening environmental protection efforts and promoting community-driven action against waste and plastic pollution across the country.
According to the organisers, the campaign will take place across all six geopolitical zones, mobilising citizens in states including Lagos, Abuja, Ogun, Osun, Cross River, Delta, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Abia, Enugu, Imo, Sokoto, Kano, Benue, Plateau, Kogi and Katsina.
The programme is also aligned with the United Nations Decade of Action, underscoring the urgency of collective efforts to restore environmental health and sustainability.
Chief Operating Officer of Sterling Bank, Temitayo Adegoke, said the initiative reflects the power of collaboration in driving meaningful impact.
“At Sterling, we believe real impact happens when institutions and individuals come together with a shared purpose. The Great Nigeria Cleanup is an opportunity not only to clean our surroundings but to redefine how we care for our environment,” Adegoke said.
He added that the initiative seeks to build a lasting culture of environmental responsibility among Nigerians.
Also speaking, Chief Executive Officer of Sterling One Foundation, Olapeju Ibekwe, described the campaign as a movement that goes beyond sanitation.
“The future we want for Nigeria depends on the actions we take today. This initiative is about dignity, wellbeing and shared responsibility. It empowers people across the country to take ownership of their environment,” she said.
The organisers noted that the initiative comes at a time Nigeria is grappling with increasing environmental challenges, including poor waste management and rising urban pollution.
They emphasised that the campaign would bring together government agencies, private sector players and community volunteers to drive sustainable and long-term environmental change.
Nigerians have been encouraged to participate actively in the exercise by turning out in their communities on the scheduled date.
The organisers added that the success of the initiative would depend on widespread public participation, stressing that maintaining a clean environment is a collective responsibility.
