1

YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL

SUSTAINABILITY IN SOUTHWEST NIGERIA

ODUNOLA M. AIKOMO
(PG/23/0103)
PHD POLITICAL SCIENCE (REGULAR)

BEING A TERM PAPER SUBMITTED

TO
DR. EYITAYO ADEWUMI
IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF COURSE REQUIREMENTS
FOR PLSC 901, ADVANCED CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL ANALYSIS

BABCOCK UNIVERSITY
ILISHAN REMO
OGUN STATE

DECEMBER 2023
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Youth Participation in Promoting Environmental Sustainability in Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

The United Nations' 2030 Agenda places significant emphasis on sustainability, and the "pledge

that no one will be left behind" underscores the obligation for "all nations and peoples and all

segments of society" to actively participate (UN General Assembly 2015, para 4). Furthermore,

it is imperative to acknowledge that promoting youth engagement is a basic human right with the

capacity to enable young people to "actively contribute to the progress of their communities and

themselves" (UN Youth 2013, para 1). This research, which was grounded in the Social

Learning Theory and Ecological Citizenship Theory, investigated the essence of youth

participation in promoting environmental sustainability through a mixed methods approach that

combined desk research and a cross-sectional survey design. The study demonstrates that

participation can take on diverse forms, and it is evident that young Nigerians are generating

original ideas such as advocacy, awareness creation, refuse management, and environmental

education to support the need for environmental sustainability. The research elucidates the

fundamental significance of passion and commitment in instigating societal shifts in the direction

of a more sustainable and environmentally conscious community. It also proposes policy

interventions that could facilitate a more efficacious involvement of young individuals in

environmental concerns.

Keywords:
youth participation, environmental sustainability, advocacy, awareness, passion, policy, hum
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Background

Increasing awareness about climate change and its potentials to wreck devastating effects

that could transcend beyond national borders has resulted in renewed interest in the essence of

sustainability. Different scholars have attempted to conceptualize the term with a focus on their

areas of investigation, nevertheless, the perspective presented in the Brundtland’s Report of the

World Commission on Environment and Development (1987) as “meeting the needs of the

present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”

(Brundtland 1987, para 27) reflected the peculiarity of the concept as one that demands

collective actions, innovative solutions, and commitment from everyone in order to guarantee a

balance between meeting the current needs while committing to the sustenance of future

generations (United Nations, 2008).

Sustainability requires a holistic approach involving collaboration between governments,

businesses, communities, and individuals (Kotob, 2011). It aims to strike a balance between

economic, social, and environmental aspects to create a more resilient and equitable future for

all. The Commission, in recognition of the fact that “environment does not exist as a sphere

separate from human actions, ambitions, and needs” (Brundtland 1987, para 11) reflected the

interconnectedness among the 3 pillars of sustainability- economic sustainability, social

sustainability and environmental sustainability- and highlights the importance of environmental

sustainability, given that “development cannot subsist upon a deteriorating environmental

resource base.” (Brundtland 1987, para 40).

Environmental sustainability demands an efficient management of resources to minimize

waste, reduction of carbon emission, promotion of energy-efficient technologies, water

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conservation, preservation of ecosystems and species to maintain ecological balance and prevent

extinction, implementation of strategies to reduce, reuse, and recycle waste and limit the amount

of waste sent to landfills, sustainable Agriculture with the adoption of farming practices that

minimize environmental impact, adoption of sustainable transportation methods, raising

awareness and educating individuals, communities, and businesses about the importance of

sustainability and how their actions impact the environment, implementation of policies and

regulations at local, national, and global levels to encourage sustainable practices and hold

industries accountable for their environmental impact. (Mensah, 2019)

Sustainability is key to the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda and the “pledge that no one will

be left behind” highlights the need for “all nations and peoples and for all segments of society”

to get involved (UN General Assembly 2015, para 4). Moreover, participation is recognised as a

fundamental human right and active participation of youth empowers them “to play a vital role in

their own development as well as in that of their communities” (UN Youth 2013, para 1).

Involving young people in what is pertinent to their well-being is a global commitment and this

study will review the activities of young people within the ages of 18 to 35 years, with a focus on

the southwestern part of Nigeria, as they participate to promote environmental sustainability.

Theoretical Framework

This study is situated within Social Learning Theory (SLT) and Ecological Citizenship

Theory (ECT).

SLT was propounded by Albert Bandura who proposed that learning occurs through

observation, imitation, and modeling and emphasizes the influence of attention, motivation,

attitudes, and emotions in effectual change in behaviour. (Tadayon et al, 2012) SLT borders on
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the interaction of environmental and cognitive elements to influence what and how people learn.

The theory, which was criticized for oversimplifying the complexities of human behaviour,

assumes that learning takes place when individuals observe the actions, attitudes, and outcomes

of others; and provides insights into how individuals acquire new behaviours given that

behaviors can be reinforced or inhibited by the consequences observed in the actions of other

people. (Kendra, 2022)

ECT has been supported by several scholars and thinkers, notably Andrew Dobson, who

argued in his work 'Citizenship and the Environment' (2003) that citizens should actively

participate in environmental conservation and sustainability. Another influential figure is Robyn

Eckersley, known for her contributions to ecological citizenship theory and environmental

governance (Jagers, 2011). ECT posits that individuals bear a duty to actively involve

themselves in endeavours related to environmental conservation and sustainability, while

simultaneously engaging in environmental protection and advocacy. Nevertheless, the theory

faces criticism for its possible constraints in tackling broader structural and systemic problems in

environmental governance and policymaking, whilst emphasising the significance of individual

involvement in environmental sustainability (Karlsson, 2012).

Methodology

The study adopted a mixed approach combining desktop research method with cross-

sectional survey design method.

An electronic literature search was performed on Google Scholar and JSTOR databases

to gather existing literature on youth, youth participation, sustainability, and environmental

sustainability. Additionally, a cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect relevant

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information from key officials of Trash2Wealth, Planet3R, and Freee Recycle. These

environmental entrepreneurs operate in two major cities in southwest Nigeria, namely Lagos and

Ibadan.

The data collected was thoroughly examined and methodically analysed to determine the

fundamental nature of youth involvement in actions and decisions that have a direct impact on

their overall welfare. The study also assessed the specific areas in which youth participate and

explored potential policy measures to enhance their engagement in promoting environmental

sustainability in Nigeria.

Conceptual Literature Review

Youth

Ingaruca (2022) argues that comprehending the characteristics of the demographic group

known as 'youth' is essential in order to effectively interact with this population. He noted that

although there are differences in how the group is defined, it is widely accepted that youth are a

diverse group, encompassing various ages, genders, religions, socio-economic statuses, and

levels of physical, emotional, and cognitive development.

In the same way, Krishnan et al. (2017) outline the difficulties associated with providing

a definition for the term 'youth' and analyse several definitions that recognise the diversity of

approaches taken by nation-states in defining the term over time, establishing their own

boundaries, in line with the United Nations' understanding that the classification of youth is

"more fluid than that of other fixed age-groups" and in recognition of member states' autonomy

in establishing their own definition of the term. Nonetheless, the United Nations classifies
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individuals aged 15 to 24 as youth "without prejudice to other definitions by Member States."

(United Nations (2013).

The age range of youth is established within the current National Youth Policy NYP

(2019) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which "targets all young people in Nigeria between

the ages of 15 and 29 years." However, this categorization may not entirely correspond with

certain circumstances, particularly when youth is defined as young adulthood and the regulations

that establish 18 years as the minimum age to exercise civic rights by voting (INEC 2019) are

considered. Furthermore, it has been noted that the NYP's current edition's depiction of youth as

Nigerians aged 15 to 29 years seemed to underestimate the actual age of youth in Nigeria and

Africa (Premium Times, 2023). Therefore, for the purposes of this research, youth is defined as

young Nigerians aged 18–35.

Youth Participation

In his analysis, Becevic (2022) characterises "youth participation" as a "multifaceted

concept" and endeavours to offer some insight by scrutinising structural inequities that establish

overarching frameworks of opportunity for various youth groups within an urban environment

that is geographically, economically, and ethnically segregated. The author notes that acts of

participation are frequently contingent on the framework in which they occur, and that

adolescent participation is influenced in numerous ways by "structural, economic, and symbolic

order" factors. These elements collectively impact the subject of the author's research. He asserts

that in order to fully understand the nature of youth involvement, it is necessary to recognise the

underlying impacts that political and economic circumstances have on the well-being of the

typical young individual.

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Public participation, according to Quick and Bryson (2016), is the direct or indirect

involvement of "concerned stakeholders" in governance via representatives in the decision-

making process concerning "policies, plans, or programmes in which they have an interest."

Stakeholders are defined as individuals or entities with the ability to impact the trajectory of

policy decisions, or that are susceptible to such influence. They engage in interactions with

organisations, leaders, and agencies that formulate or implement public policies, programmes,

and plans.

Public participation, according to Creighton (2005), is "the process through which the

concerns, needs, and values of the public are integrated into the decision-making processes of

governments and corporations." Achieving decisions that are in the public's best interest as a

whole is the objective of the two-way, structured communication and interaction that constitutes

participation. As per Creighton's conceptualization, participation can be understood as a

spectrum with scales positioned at various intervals, with particular emphasis on public

education, public feedback, collaborative problem-solving, and agreement formation.

Continuum of Participation (Creighton, 2015)

Youth participation was considered a "quality indicator of interventions involving young

people" by Cahill et al. (2018), who also put forth a framework that could facilitate further

deliberation, strategy, and implementation in their respective fields. They noted that
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"participation is not a panacea" and regarded it as "an issue of social justice, a platform for

positive development, a medium for active citizenry, a human right, and a strategy for nation-

building" (Zeldin et al 2014; Cahill et al 2018). According to Cahill et al. (2018), participation is

a "complex assemblage" that is shaped by various factors such as cultural norms, societal

structures, discourses, emotions, material circumstances, and behaviours. However, it has the

potential to establish a foundation that inspires novel ways of thinking, being, and acting, as

young people actively participate in the policy formulation and decision-making process. The

study refers to the Typology of Youth Participation and Empowerment (TYPE) Pyramid, which

was originally proposed by Wong, Zimmerman, and Parker (2010) and emphasises the varying

degrees of youth engagement that culminate in a partnership between youth and adults, where a

sense of shared responsibility fosters well-rounded progress.

Typology of youth participation and empowerment pyramid (Wong et. al 2010; Cahill & Dadvand 2018)

According to Farthing (2015), policymakers and practitioners may encounter challenges

in improving the circumstances of young people unless they possess a fundamental

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understanding of youth participation. The author defined youth participation as a procedure that

empowers young individuals to "take part in, express views on, and have decision-making power

about issues that affect them " as active citizens. His rationale for considering participation a

fundamental right of every citizen includes respecting the rights of young people, empowering

young people, improving the effectiveness of policies and services, and fostering the

development of young people.

The study conducted by Osabohien et al (2021) investigates the influence of youth

engagement in agriculture as their main occupation on income and poverty levels in Nigeria. The

findings reveal that youth involvement and empowerment have a positive effect on reducing

young unemployment rates and increasing the per capita income of the nation. Furthermore, the

findings demonstrate that both the gender of the young individuals and their strong commitment

to remain in the field of agriculture greatly enhance the likelihood of their engagement in

agriculture as a primary occupation.

In their study titled "Youth Participation in Local Environmental Action: An Avenue for

Science and Civic Learning?", Schusler et al (2008) find that engaging in environmental action

can enhance the ability of young individuals to participate in democratic processes as

scientifically knowledgeable citizens. The authors establish a connection between civic

education and scientific education, outlining key concepts for including young people in local

environmental initiatives, which include considering them as active participants, promoting true

engagement, intentional action, inquiry, critical reflection, and fostering positive youth

development.

Ingaruca (2022) argues that incorporating youth engagement into a comprehensive

framework of climate change governance (CCG) entails the understanding that youth
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participation may address several aspects of governance, including policy, politics, and polity, in

order to bring about significant structural transformations. The study observes that youth

participation may take place at many levels and phases, and in diverse types of relationships with

both governmental and non-governmental entities; and also examines the range of young

people's involvement in managing climate change while proposing a reassessment of the

prevailing preconceptions.

Sustainability

According to Morelli (2011), environmental sustainability can be described as a state of

equilibrium, durability, and interdependence that enables human society to fulfil its requirements

without surpassing the ability of its ecosystems to continuously renew the essential services

needed to meet those requirements, nor causing a reduction in biological diversity through their

actions. According to him, sustainability is centered on ensuring the availability of unpolluted

air, water, and land that can support productivity. Out of the three pillars of sustainability, the

sustainable environment is the only one that can exist independently. This is because

socioeconomic systems rely on a continuous supply of material, energy, and environmental

resources. Therefore, any effort to eliminate threats and promote environmental sustainability

should contribute to the functioning of such a system.

Moore (2017) classifies five key sustainability constructs from 24 definitions identified in

his review of over 200 extant literatures on the subject whereas Patterson (2022) postulates that

environmental sustainability is important to preserve resources including clean air, water, and

wildlife for future generations. Introducing the planetary boundary (PB) which debuts in 2009 to

define the scope of human operation within environmental constraints, he conceptualizes

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sustainability as “Ensuring that human society operates with ecological borders” and highlights

the essence of operating within the confines of such boundaries to maintain sustainability.

According to Arora (2018), the current population growth and increased human activities

are placing significant strain on natural resources, making environmental sustainability a major

concern for humanity. Ingaruca (2022), in his study titled "Aiming higher: Elevating meaningful

youth engagement for climate action," highlights the vulnerability of young people to the long-

term environmental impacts of climate change. He agrees with Clark et al 2020 that ongoing

global warming carries significant implications for children and youth. He also acknowledges the

need to empower and collaborate with young individuals to provide the groundwork for a

peaceful and sustainable future.

In essence, the term 'youth' is open to a variety of interpretations, and the United Nations,

acknowledging the significance of socioeconomic concerns, permits diverse viewpoints that are

contingent on the experiences of individual nation-states. However, a consensus exists regarding

the fundamental nature of sustainability and the imperative to encourage youth engagement in

order to implement policies effectively and empower members of society. Nonetheless, an

intentional study on the activities of Nigerian youth in promoting environmental sustainability

has not yet been conducted.

Consequently, this study will aim to:

1. assess the endeavours of young individuals in their advocacy for environmental

sustainability.

2. review the initiatives of Trash2Wealth, Planet3R, and Freee Recycle.

3. highlight the capacity for youth involvement in environmental sustainability initiatives.

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Discussion of Findings

Recognising the importance of young people's viewpoints and actively including them in

different areas is essential for creating inclusive, strong, and lively communities. Youth

participation involves engaging and involving young individuals in different aspects of society,

providing them with various opportunities to contribute, express their opinions, and take active

roles in areas such as decision-making, community projects, social movements, and civic

activities that ultimately influence their lives and well-being.

The active involvement of young people in advocating for environmental sustainability

has played a crucial role in worldwide endeavours to tackle urgent environmental issues. The

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) states that youth empowerment is essential

for upholding human rights and is also a strategic investment in promoting sustainable

development and peace (UNDP, 2017). The Youth Global Programme for Sustainable

Development and Peace (Youth-GPS) was launched to address the challenges faced by young

people and their tendency to be overlooked. These challenges arise from various forms of

discrimination that prevent them from participating in public life. The 5-year global programme

aims to facilitate the implementation of UNDP's Youth Strategy 2014-2017, the 2030 Agenda for

Sustainable Development, and the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 on Youth,

Peace, and Security.

Nigeria has an estimated population of 226 million people, according to Worldometer

(2023). Imhonopi and Urim (2018) in Olawale et al (2022) state that Nigeria is one of the central

African countries with a significant youth population, with approximately 60% of the population
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being under the age of 30 years (Adefajo, 2023). However, social exclusion, unemployment, and

poverty have hindered their ability to contribute effectively to national development and

environmental sustainability (Olawale et al, 2022).

Similar to several other nations, Nigeria confronts a variety of environmental

sustainability issues such as deforestation, biodiversity loss, air pollution, land degradation, oil

pollution, water pollution, and inadequate waste management (Obeta, 2012). To tackle these

difficulties, it is necessary to employ several strategies that encompass policy interventions,

community involvement, education, and sustainable practices. The active participation of young

people is crucial for the successful implementation of these methods (Olawale et al, 2022).

According to the findings of the study, young Nigerians are progressively advocating for

opportunities to engage in issues of national and international significance. They are actively

participating in policy engagements and community initiatives, activism and advocacy,

innovative solutions, education and awareness, and youth network and organisation in order to

advocate for, implement, and promote sustainable practices.

One notable example is the Nigeria Youth SDGs Network (NGYouthSDGs), which

operates on the idea that young individuals possess the vigour, ingenuity, and determination to

bring about unique changes within their lifetime (NGYouthSDGs website). The collective of

youthful Nigerians is present across all 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory.

They organise and mobilise other young individuals to achieve significant outcomes through

their leadership, advocacy, participation in programmes and initiatives, and various other

activities.

Another instance is the Agenda Climate Change for Africa Initiative, an NGO based in

Nigeria, which is presently endeavouring to formulate an environmental education strategy in

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local communities. This is being accomplished through various initiatives, namely the Service-

Learning Project, Community Based Environmental Project, and School Based Environmental

Initiative. The organisation identifies communities, both rural and urban, as beneficiaries and

conducts a thorough evaluation of the environmental challenges confronting these communities

(Adefajo, 2023).

Patrick Mbamarah, the owner of Morit International School in Lagos State's Ajegunle

area, is a young advocate for environmental sustainability. He offers parents of his students the

opportunity to exchange plastic waste for school fees, promoting the idea of recycling and

reducing plastic waste (Punch Newspaper, 2022). Mbamarah recognises the potential for raising

awareness and managing waste by motivating parents to clean their surroundings, and then

repurposes the gathered items through recycling.

Additional instances comprise Jumoke Olowookere, the initiator of Waste Museum

situated in Ibadan, who is dedicated to establishing a sustainable world devoid of waste by means

of recycling. Another individual is Anjorin Oluwatobi Emmanuel, an expert in environmental

and social management consulting, with experience in environmental action planning,

assessment, management, monitoring, and audit, is responsible for coordinating the

Commonwealth Youth Climate Network in Nigeria. His role involves facilitating global youth

engagements and transboundary parliamentary engagements with politicians from various

commonwealth countries with the aim of bridging the gap between youth activists and

policymakers. Taiwo Ogunwumi, the founder of the Geohazard Risk Mapping Initiative

(www.georiskmap.org), whose organisation provides flood maps, susceptibility levels to

flooding, and statistical estimations of farmlands, educational institutions, and major markets that

are prone to future floods. He has successfully mapped 25 communities/LGAs in Lagos State
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(Ikorodu, Ibeju Lekki), Borno State (Maiduguri, Mongunu), and communities in Benue, Kogi

State, and Adamawa State that are susceptible to flooding. (Source: NGYouthSDGs, 2022)

Trash2Wealth, Planet3R and Freee Recycle

Trash2Wealth, Planet3R, and Freee Recycle are environmental entrepreneurs who

operate in Southwest Nigeria, specifically in the cities of Lagos and Ibadan.

Trash2Wealth, established by Bukola Bamiduro in Lagos, Nigeria, aims to help people

see the value of garbage and the hidden riches within rubbish. Recognising trash management as

a significant problem in Nigeria, the creator made the decision to utilise the platform to promote

and shape behavioural modifications about garbage. The firm manufactures settees, centerpieces,

and other household decorative items from recycled tyres, bottles, and paper. In addition, they

include school children and women by instructing them on the process of transforming plastics

and waste tyres into unique and aesthetically pleasing furniture and artefacts, which may be

marketed and shown in residential, commercial, and public settings (Bamiduro, 2018).

Planet 3R is a social enterprise established by Adejoke Lasisi in Ibadan. Its primary

objective is to transform textile and plastic waste into environmentally beneficial items such as

bags, boxes, sandals, shoes, and similar things. Planet3R embraces the 3R principles (Reduce,

Reuse, Recycle) by repurposing discarded plastic and nylon materials. They ingeniously

combine these materials with local textiles to create creative products, therefore alleviating the

burden on landfills and safeguarding the environment. Adejoke, upon recognising the hazards

associated with the trash disposal methods in her community, particularly the burning of rubbish

that contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer, made the decision to enhance her weaving

abilities in order to develop a creative solution, now referred to as Planet3R. The idea is centered
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around engaging unemployed youth in training programmes that teach them efficient methods of

generating income by recycling of plastic and textile waste. Planet3R sponsors innovative

awareness campaigns aimed at promoting a cleaner environment (https://www.planet3r.com/).

Freee Recycle is a Nigerian recycling firm that focuses on transforming scrap tyres into

eco-friendly rubber moulded goods. These products may be used in many settings such as

homes, offices, playgrounds, and gyms. The firm, established by Ifedolapo Runsewe, converts

used tyres obtained from Lagos, Oyo, and Ogun states into high-quality reusable items such as

interlocking mats, floor tiles, dog bone pavers, and slippers, which meet international standards.

The facility is situated in Ibadan, Oyo State, with additional branches in Lagos, Nigeria. The

environmentally conscious firm is expanding its operations to include steel recycling, with the

aim of recycling the steel component found in tyres. They engage in collaboration with other

enterprises through their Extended Consumer Responsibility (ECR) initiative, aimed at

repurposing old tyres for more sustainable and eco-friendly purposes

(https://freee-recycle.com/ng/)
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Analysis of the feedback from Trash2Wealth, Planet3R and Freee Recycle

Basis Trash2Wealth Planet3R Freee Recycle

Location Lagos Ibadan Ibadan and Lagos

Nature of business Upcycling plastics and tyres into Converting textile and plastic Recycles waste tyres and
conversation starter furniture wastes into eco-friendly manufactures rubber products with
pieces: "We create brand new products using the 3R (Reduce, the recycled rubber.
furniture from used tires." Reuse, Recycle) to save our
planet Earth by weaving them
into innovative items.
Motivation Taking responsibility for our Reduce the landfill space by Reducing environmental footprint.
wastes; concern for the recycling clothes and nylons.
environment. “There is wealth in
waste; treasure in trash”
Environmental Sustainability Waste management Waste management Waste management, Pollution,
(ES) Issue Targeted Land degradation, Climate change
Opinion about youth Constitutes a large proportion of We empower women and Current environmental challenges
participation in ES the Nigerian population and are youth in rural communities by portend long term impact for the
able to initiate change. training them on sustainable youth.
waste collecting and recycling.They can bring fresh innovative
ideas and solutions to
environmental problems.
Collaborations Workshops. Exhibitions and Grassroot and creative Extended Consumer Responsibility
hands-on activities awareness programmes geared Program with major tyres
towards achieving a clean consumers such as logistics
environment. companies, and producers like
Michelin.
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How would you rate Very significant Significant

government’s support of ES?
How can educational institutions Making ES a priority and seeing Interdisciplinary integration, hands-
incorporate ES into their that we all have a role to play to on learning, dedicated courses, eco-
programmes? create a safer ecosystem. friendly practices within school
facilities and professional
development for educators.
Mobilization of youth for ES Incentives, Empowerment of unemployed Economic incentives, education and
causes Job opportunity within the youths by training them on awareness, youth-led initiatives,
recycling chain, effective ways to earn income online engagements, mentorship
Involvement and making them from recycling plastic and programs and involvement in
stakeholders textile waste decision-making.
The future of youth participation The more people get sensitized, Taking prominent leadership roles,
in ES the more the awareness and the using technology and innovation to
ripple effect will create a healthy address environmental challenges,
environment, collaborative networks and
addressing the global nature of
Trash2Wealth is currently environmental issues.
participating by providing free
training, and organizing
programmes tailored to the
interest of the young ones.
Policy actions that could Involving youth in decision- Grassroots and Creative Mandate comprehensive
engender youth involvement in making Awareness programs geared environmental education in schools.
ES Towards Achieving a Clean
Making it mandatory for Environment. Allocate funds for youth-led
educational planners to include environmental projects.
ES in the curriculum.
Establish official youth advisory
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Giving grants to support those councils on environmental matters.

who want to start ES as a career.
Promote youth representation in
decision making bodies.

Create government-sponsored
environmental job programs.

Offer grants for youth-led

environmental projects.

Appoint youth environmental

ambassadors.

Invest in eco-friendly public

infrastructure such as public
transportation and green spaces.

Recognise young environmental

champions by giving them national
awards.

Launch campaigns highlighting

youth involvement in sustainability.
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Conclusion and Recommendations

The concept of sustainability is of great significance, and it has been recognised that

environmental sustainability plays a crucial role in promoting economic and social sustainability.

A wide range of issues, including as improper waste management, oil spills, air and water

pollution, and human activities that generate Greenhouse Gases (GHG) and deplete the ozone

layer, have a significant influence on environmental sustainability. Considering that human

activities significantly contribute to climate change; it is crucial to address the factors that

promote environmental sustainability across all demographic groups. Furthermore, the future-

oriented nature of this issue makes it imperative for young individuals to be actively involved in

promoting environmental sustainability.

The United Nations has advocated for agendas and initiatives that support the notion that

learning occurs via the process of observation and imitation, as outlined by the Social Learning

Theory. The United Nations has long recognised that young people are a valuable resource for

driving progress and playing a crucial role in societal transformation, economic development,

and technical advancements. As a result, the UN has aggressively promoted various programmes

and methods to guarantee their active involvement in decision-making processes and the

implementation of plans.

This study shows that participation can manifest in various ways, and young Nigerians

are perceived to be generating unique ideas to support the need for environmental sustainability.

Their behaviour demonstrates their understanding of the inherent perils associated with

disregarding climate change concerns and the possible implications for future generations. As a

result, they leverage their expertise, connections, and visibility to generate prospects that may

facilitate the advancement of environmental sustainability. Moreover, the research underscores

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the different endeavours initiated by the United Nations in an effort to promote the involvement

of young individuals in environmental sustainability. It places particular emphasis on the

importance of engaged citizens participating actively in environmental conservation and

sustainability, as posited by the Ecological Citizenship Theory.

The engagement with young environmental entrepreneurs demonstrates the growing

ability of young Nigerians to independently mobilise around environmental concerns. The

business models of Trash2Wealth, Planet3R, and Freee Recycle demonstrate their deliberate

commitment to addressing significant environmental issues and their efforts to educate and raise

awareness, particularly among school children. These initiatives align with the objective of

leaving no one behind, as outlined by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in

2017. Furthermore, these companies operate with the aim of fulfilling the five pillars of the

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)- People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnership.

The findings of this study can be valuable in establishing an appropriate agenda for

promoting the inclusion of young people in policy development and implementation. The active

involvement of young people in advocating for environmental sustainability not only provides

new viewpoints and creative concepts, but also guarantees that the worries and ambitions of

future generations are included in endeavours to save our world.

Their passion, dynamism, and dedication play a crucial role in driving change and

motivating wider social transformations towards a more sustainable and ecologically aware

society, affirming the potential of youth participation in advancing environmental sustainability.

By considering the manner in which the subject of study interacts with its surroundings,

policymakers may be able to develop more effective and applicable measures that satisfy the

public's interests. Furthermore, they emphasised policy measures such as eco-friendly

 23

infrastructure, environmental education, and environmental grants, among others, that

practitioners and decision-makers may wish to contemplate as Nigeria strives to achieve the Net-

Zero target by 2060.

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APPENDIX
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