YOU MISSED PLOGGATHON ABUJA? COME, LEMME GIST YOU!

by - Plogging Club on - October 19, 2023

Just the other day, Plogging Nigeria had a massive civic action event in Abuja and I know you must have seen snippets of how the event went. Snippets are not enough though, grab a chair with chilled ice tea and allow me bring the full gist to your table. Shall we?

Ploggathon Abuja was a dream come true for the entire community of Plogging Nigeria as we had worked tirelessly to ensure the event was successful. The purpose of the Ploggathon event was to combine plogging and marathon with the primary aim to beat plastic pollution.

As you may know, plastic pollution has become one of the biggest environmental issues. Hence, we aimed at driving massive action and facilitating participation of Nigerians towards solving the waste management problems in the country, especially by modifying behaviour towards materials use and waste disposal practices. We also added a conversation on loss and damage as icing on the cake, before you say ‘wetin be this one again?’ Let me explain, "Loss and damage" in climate change refers to the harm and negative consequences caused by climate-related events and impacts. It often involves discussions about compensation and support for communities affected by these damages.

Back to the event, ploggathon was such that participants which we call PLOGGSTARS will compete from the start point (Jabi Lake) to the finish line (National Stadium) which sums up to 10 kilometres. Do not forget that it is a simultaneous marathon and cleanup exercise where participants compete to pick up the most waste while striving to reach the finish line earliest so as much as you are striving to win, you also have in mind that you have waste to pick on your way.

There were 152 males, 73 females, of which 197 were youths, 44 were adults and 4 were children (I’m sure you did not expect that). The mix had 30 incredible volunteers and a special appearance of 4 persons from the association of the Deaf with. There were a total of 225 incredible persons in attendance.

After an amazing ploggathon experience with 6 winners (3 from male and female category each), we dived into having insightful discussions about plastic pollution, loss & damage and other environmental issues and of course, what’s an event without item 7 and cool music? (winks)

We could not have had a successful event if we did not have amazing sponsors and partners standing gallantly with us. Our sponsors were The Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance, Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Embassy of Denmark, Embassy of Sweden, Chanja Datti, Ecosmart, Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem (GIFSEP), and Aquaworld. You can see that we brought in the big fishes from all over and that is not all ooh, we had other partners like Clean Technology Hub, Let’s Do It Nigeria, Rotaract Zone E, District 9125, Abuja Run Club, Pathfinder Footprint Network, Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON), Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and Abuja Association of the Deaf (AAD). 3 gbosas to all our sponsors and partners (Gbosa! Gbosa! Gbosa!)

I’m sorry you had to miss Ploggathon Abuja for one reason or the other. But you can view pictures from the event here.

I know with this gist you have read, you will not want to be told of another Plogging Nigeria event or Ploggathon event so be on the lookout and we will see you there!