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Royal Commonwealth Society, NSC Launch Clean Oceans Campaign in Nigeria

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By Joel Ajayi


The Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS), in collaboration with the National Sports Commission (NSC) and Commonwealth Games Nigeria, has officially launched the Clean Oceans Plastic Awareness Campaign in Nigeria as part of a broader initiative to combat the growing threat of plastic pollution across the Commonwealth.
The campaign was flagged off on Wednesday at Jabi Lake in Abuja, carrying a strong message of environmental responsibility—particularly targeted at young Nigerians.


The initiative is designed to raise awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution, promote responsible waste disposal, and encourage environmental stewardship, especially around Nigeria’s waterways.


Speaking at the launch, the Country Director and CEO of the Royal Commonwealth Society Nigeria, Mr. Blackson Olaseni Bayewumi, said the campaign aligns with a Commonwealth-wide commitment to reducing plastic waste and protecting marine ecosystems. He emphasized the transformative power of sports in inspiring environmental awareness and behavior change among young people.


He highlighted the critical role of sports as a tool for engaging young people and driving meaningful change in environmental behavior.


“The Commonwealth accounts for one-third of the world’s ocean waters, and nearly half of its member countries are Small Island Developing States that suffer disproportionately from plastic pollution,” Bayewumi noted.


According to him, the Royal Commonwealth Society’s Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign aims to prevent at least one million pieces of plastic from entering Commonwealth waterways.


 The campaign blends grassroots education with direct community action, urging people to reduce their plastic footprint, embrace alternatives, and promote cleaner oceans.


A major component of the campaign is its integration with the King’s Baton Relay—a hallmark of the build-up to the Commonwealth Games. In a groundbreaking move, the 2025-2026 relay will spotlight sustainability and environmental protection, beginning with its launch by His Majesty The King at Buckingham Palace on Commonwealth Day 2025.

The Baton Relay is now on a 500-day journey across all Commonwealth nations and territories ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.


In each country, including Nigeria, the Baton Relay will bring together youth, athletes, local communities, and environmental groups for a week of activities—most notably, organized plastic clean-up drives.


The urgency of this campaign is underlined by alarming statistics: the world produces 400 million tonnes of plastic every year, with over 12 million tonnes ending up in the oceans. 
Without urgent action, scientists predict that by 2050, there could be more plastic than fish in the sea.


Plastic waste poses a deadly threat to marine life—suffocating birds, fish, and mammals while damaging key ecosystems.


Moreover, as plastics break down into microplastics due to ocean erosion and sunlight, they enter our food, water, and even air.


Although the full health implications of microplastics remain unknown, early research suggests they may disrupt vital bodily functions—and there is currently no method to fully remove them from the environment or our bodies.
The campaign supports multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:
SDG 12: Responsible, Consumption and ProductionSDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 14: Life Below Water

It also reflects the core principles of the Commonwealth Charter, especially: Article 9: Sustainable Development. Article 10: Protection of the Environment and Article 14: Recognition of the Needs of Small States

As the world grapples with escalating environmental challenges, the Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign represents a significant step in uniting nations, communities, and young leaders under a shared mission: to protect our oceans, preserve biodiversity, and build a cleaner, safer world for future generations.

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Tinubu Reaffirms Commitment To A Digitally-Driven Workforce

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Joel Ajayi

In a strong affirmation of his administration’s vision for a technology-enabled public service, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has reiterated the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to building a world-class, digitally-driven, and citizen-centred workforce capable of driving inclusive and sustainable national development.

The President, represented by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, mni, at the opening ceremony of the 57th International Conference and Exhibition of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) held in Abuja, noted that the Conference provides a vital platform for thought leaders, policymakers, and human resource professionals to examine and discuss the evolving dynamics of work under the theme, “Reimagining the New World of Work.”

President Tinubu commended the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria for its consistency and nearly six decades of professional excellence, ethical leadership, and dedication to human capital development in Nigeria. He acknowledged the Institute’s invaluable role in promoting professionalism and strengthening workforce governance across both public and private sectors.

Highlighting the Administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the President emphasized that “Nigeria’s greatest asset is not its oil or minerals, but its people.” He underscored key Federal Government initiatives such as the 3 Million Technical Talent Programme (3MTT) and the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), designed to position Nigeria as a global hub for skilled digital professionals.

The President also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ongoing public service transformation through the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2025 (FCSSIP25), which aims to achieve a fully digital and paperless civil service by 31st December, 2025.

He explained that the adoption of the Enterprise Content Management (ECM) solution is a major milestone in enhancing efficiency, transparency, and accountability in public service operations.

In his welcome address, the President and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), Mallam Ahmed Ladan Gobir FCIPM, fnli, emphasized that the future of work will not necessarily reward the strongest or the smartest, but those courageous enough to remain human in a digital world. He described the conference as “not just another HR event, but a transformative movement that will echo through boardrooms, classrooms, and corridors of influence for years to come.”

Mallam Gobir reaffirmed the Institute’s commitment to redefining workplace leadership and advancing professional excellence. He urged human resource professionals to transcend traditional management practices and cultivate work environments “where humans and technology collaborate, not compete; where innovation meets integrity, and productivity aligns with purpose.”

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