The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called on Nigerians to take greater responsibility for food consumption and waste management as part of efforts to build cleaner and healthier communities.
Tinubu made the call in a message marking World Cleanup Day 2026, observed on Sunday, September 20, under the theme “From Clean Plates to Clean Cities.” The United Nations and UN-Habitat confirmed that this year’s observance focuses on food waste and its environmental impact.
Oluremi Tinubu said the emphasis on food waste was particularly important amid disruptions to global food production and supply caused by climate change, conflicts and other challenges.
She urged Nigerians to become more conscious of how they purchase, prepare, consume and preserve food in order to minimise unnecessary waste.
According to her, reducing food waste should form part of broader efforts to protect the environment and promote sustainable communities.
“This year’s focus on food waste is particularly important at a time when climate change, conflicts, and other global challenges continue to disrupt food production and supply,” she said.
The First Lady encouraged households, businesses and communities to reduce food waste while also improving how they dispose of refuse.
She called for more sustainable practices that would help protect the environment and contribute to healthier living conditions.
“I encourage households, businesses, and communities to reduce food waste, dispose of refuse properly, and adopt more sustainable practices that protect our environment,” she added.
The 2026 World Cleanup Day campaign similarly encourages measures such as food waste prevention, redistribution, composting and better recovery of organic waste.
The 2026 World Cleanup Day theme, “From Clean Plates to Clean Cities,” draws attention to the connection between food consumption, waste generation and the cleanliness of communities.
The United Nations said more than one billion meals are wasted globally every day, while food waste contributes to climate change and places additional pressure on waste-management systems.
The UN also noted that about 1.05 billion metric tonnes of food were wasted in 2022, representing roughly 19 per cent of food available to consumers.
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The first lady stressed that building cleaner communities would require the participation of individuals, families, businesses and other groups.
She said sustained collective efforts could help create healthier communities while protecting the environment for future generations.
“Through our collective efforts, we can build cleaner, healthier communities for present and future generations,” she said.
World Cleanup Day is observed annually on September 20 following a 2023 United Nations General Assembly resolution recognising the day and encouraging global action on waste management and sustainable development.
