By Fabian Ekeruche/Yinka Olawale

Lagos, March 19, 2020

Sterling One Foundation on Saturday partnered the Oniru Kingdom to mark the 2022 Global Recycling Day to promote cleaner environment in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Day is celebrated on March 18 globally.

The 2022 Global Recycling Day with the theme: “Recycling Fraternity,” was aimed at educating residents on the importance of a cleaner environment.

The foundation in partnership with the Oniru Kingdom and other relevant state actors took out time to clean up Oniru beach as part of the celebration.

Speaking at the occasion, the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tunji Bello, said that concerted efforts should be made to protect the environment from plastic pollution.

Bello represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Gaji Tajudeen, said that the use of single use plastic had been banned in the state.

According to him, the ministry is working seriously to see that Lagos residents embrace the culture of recycling.

In her goodwill message, the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, expressed gratitude to Sterling Bank and its Foundation for their passion for the environment.

Akinbile-Yussuf said that the state was blessed with great aquatic splendour that needed to be kept clean to leverage the tourism potential of the waterways.

“Proper disposal of wastes will lead to less flooding in Lagos.

“We should continue to protect the environment,” Akinbile-Yussuf said.

Also, the Managing Director, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, said that the bank was marking the Day in 21 states of the federation.

Suleiman represented by the Executive Director, Commercial and Institutional Banking, Mr. Tunde Areola, said that the bank had been in the business of environmental sustainability through it’s clean-up programmes.

“Every time this happens, we have a cleaner environment,” Suleiman said.

Also, Mrs. Mojisola Bakare, Divisional Head, Corporate Client Coverage and Sales, Sterling Bank Plc, said that the bank was all about impactful banking.

Bakare said that the bank was passionate about health, education, agriculture, renewable energy and tourism.

According to her, keeping a clean and sustainable environment will attract Nigerians in the Diaspora back home.

Ace Comedian/Actor, Atunyota Akpobome, popularly known as Ali Baba, said that recycling creates employment opportunities for people.

He promised to create more awareness on recycling using popular Nigerian actors and comedians.

For the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sterling One Foundation, Mrs. Olapeju Ibekwe, the clean up exercise was borne out of the conversation the Foundation had with the Oniru of Iru Kingdom, Oba Gbolahan Lawal.

Ibekwe said that the Oniru showed so much passion for environmental sustainability.

According to her, with the experience of the four beach adopted for clean up last year, Nigerians have began to pay attention to waste sorting and recycling.

“Oniru kingdom has stood out on environmental sustainability and waste recycling.

“Our dream is to see how we can adopt all the shorelines for cleaning by upscaling their tourism potential, Ibekwe said.

She said that cleaning the environment was another means to wealth creation.

NAN reports that Sterling One Foundation continues its Beach Adoption and Recycling project at Alpha, Lafiaji and Eleko Beaches.