For this edition of Conservation Commons Smithsonian Magazine interviewed Oluwaseyi Moejoh, who is a cofounder and executive director of U-recycle Initiative Africa, a law student, a National Geographic Young Explorer, a 2021 Global Teen Leader at We are Family Foundation, a High Seas Alliance Youth Ambassador, a 2020 Africave fellow, a 2020 Squad Leader at the Ocean Heroes Network and a recipient of the 2020 Youth-in-Development Fellowship by SOZO networks sponsored by the US embassy.

Tell us more about the U-Recycle Initiative. How has it made an impact so far?

U-recycle Initiative Africa is a registered (CAC/IT/NO 157391) youth-led, non-profit organisation committed to advancing circular economy, environmental sustainability, and climate action across Africa.

Our projects are focused on enlightening youths to take action, empowering youths to create solutions to combat plastic pollution, and creating value from waste.

U-recycle Initiative’s efforts are geared towards mitigating plastic pollution across Africa and protecting oceans, vulnerable communities, the planet, biodiversity, and humans from the perils of the plastic pollution crisis.

As of May 2021, we have implemented over ten projects which have educated and engaged thousands of people in 11 African countries.

We are currently working with National Geographic’s support to scale our work to reach thousands of high-school students across six states in Nigeria through our recently launched African Youth for Environment Fellowship (AY4E).

Read more from Smithsonian Magazine and check out Oluwaseyi Moejoh’s site, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter