History - Plogging Nigeria

Inspiration from the Scandinavian

“Plogging” is a relatively new English word formed from the fusion of Swedish and English words; PLOcka up and joGGING. It simply means jogging and simultaneously picking up litter. Founded by Mayokun Iyaomolere in 2018, Plogging Nigeria became the pioneer Plogging society in Nigeria and Africa at large.

Starting at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, as part of activities to mark the 2018 World Environment Day-themed #BeatPlasticPollution, Mayokun had invited 17 volunteers in Africa’s most beautiful campus to join him on a Plogging run on the expansive hilly terrain of OAU.

Incorporation and Spread

This volunteer-led initiative has now blossomed into a platform for young people across Nigeria, particularly on institution campuses to lend their voice, advocate and act on climate change. Two months following the maiden volunteer-led Plogging run and x tons of waste recovered after, Plogging Nigeria was registered with the Nigerian Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in 2018 as a not-for-profit and non-governmental organization under the CAMA Act of Nigeria. The idea of Plogging as a community led by young people advocating for climate action and sustainable waste management in Nigerian cities soon caught the attention of varied audiences through the social media postings of the Plogging runs and the positive environmental impact in its wake.

The 17 Volunteers

Beginning with 17 volunteers, Plogging Nigeria has grown to become the largest youth-driven environmental and climate advocacy group in Nigeria. Plogging Nigeria has in the last 6 years, consistently birthed new communities across seventeen (17) states in the country, giving young people a voice to hold their people and leaders accountable for environmental action.
30 Institutions

In all 17 states, our plogging communities are headquartered in thirty (30) Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs). Plogging Nigeria now boasts a membership of over 1,600 active members, aka, Ploggas, advancing the organisation’s mission of “fit people, clean communities, and sustainable environment”

Check Our Projects

Plogging Nigeria started with a core mandate to amplify the waste management problem in many Nigerian communities. To drive a sustainable waste management narrative, the organisation embraced the plogging initiative as a participatory action to encourage community engagement. Plogging as a workout provides variation in body movements by adding bending, squatting and stretching to the exercise of jogging while offering participants the added benefit of physical fitness as they keep the environment clean.

As a dynamic community of young people, we have evolved over the years from just “Plogging” as our core mandate to leading various other initiatives that advance environmental sustainability across Nigeria. Previously, Plogging Nigeria focused on promoting a culture of physical fitness and responsible waste handling through plogging episodes or runs and cleanup events. Today, the organisation has expanded its scope of operations to cover climate and environmental education, circular economy advocacy, climate justice and policies. Through these initiatives, the organisation commits to shaping the attainment of the sustainable development goals as outlined by the United Nations.

Mayokun Iyaomolere

The Founder

Mayokun Iyaomolere

Plogging Nigeria was launched by Mayokun Iyaomolere on June 2nd, 2018 as part of the event to mark the 2018 World Environment Day, themed #BeatPlasticPollution at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. Instituted as a Club in the University, it is now attracting strong interest and similar establishments across campuses all over Nigeria.