World Cleanup Day events spotlight fashion waste
Lagos group frees two rescued sea turtles amid wider push for marine protection
Hundreds of cleanup events are taking place worldwide as part of World Cleanup Day, a United Nations‑recognized initiative that this year highlights textile and fashion waste—a largely overlooked source of urban pollution, social inequality and climate pressure, according to UN‑Habitat.
In Lagos, Nigeria, the Greenfingers Wildlife Conservation Initiative freed two rehabilitated sea turtles—a 32‑kg male and a 24‑kg female—after they had been rescued from fishermen’s nets. The turtles, victims of bycatch, spent time in a sanctuary before being released back into the ocean. Founder Chinedu Mogbo noted that the release coincides with growing public awareness of pollution and wildlife protection. Over the past five years Greenfingers has rescued and released more than 70 turtles, collaborating with local fishing communities to mitigate harm.
Conservationists view the release as symbolic of broader efforts to safeguard Nigeria’s endangered sea‑turtle populations. The country’s coastline hosts at least five species, including Olive Ridley, Hawksbill and Leatherback turtles, but habitat loss, plastic debris and poaching continue to threaten their survival. Greenfingers’ community‑based model supplies fishermen with net‑repair kits in exchange for rescued turtles or protected nests, aiming to reduce accidental catches while supporting livelihoods.
Despite the optimism generated by the two releases, experts stress that lasting protection requires stronger governmental action: the establishment of marine protected areas, stricter enforcement of existing environmental regulations, and increased funding for conservation programs. The coordinated global cleanup activities and local wildlife interventions together underscore a mounting international push to address both visible litter and hidden pollutants such as discarded textiles, seeking to protect ecosystems and communities alike.
