Nigerian teens create fashion from trash to fight pollution

Iteoluwa Olukanmi, left, and Success John Nzoribe, right, wearing outfit made from recycled bottles, receive makeup back stage before a 'trashion show' in Sangotedo Lagos, Nigeria, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) 鈥 Teenage climate activists in Nigeria's largest city are recycling trash into runway outfits for a 鈥淭rashion Show.鈥

Chinedu Mogbo, founder of Greenfingers Wildlife Initiative, a conservation group working with the activists, said the show was designed to raise awareness about environmental pollution.

Lagos, one of Africa鈥檚 most populous cities with more than 15 million people, generates at least 12,000 metric tons of waste daily, authorities say. And implementation of environmental laws is poor: The World Bank estimates that pollution kills at least 30,000 people in this city every year.

This year鈥檚 show came just as world leaders wrapped up

In collaboration with young activists and models, the Greenfingers Wildlife Initiative says it's out to recycle as many plastics as possible, one community at a time.

It organizes regular trash clean-ups across communities, at drainage ditches and beaches. The plastic litter is then used to create fabrics for the fashion show.

Draped in red plastic spoons and fabric, 16-year-old Nethaniel Edegwa said she joined this year鈥檚 edition as a model 鈥渢o make a change."

"We can see that we are all being affected by the climate change, so I really want to make a difference,鈥 Edegwa said.

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Asadu contributed from Abuja, Nigeria.

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