Esther Oluwatoyin Solanke

A Nigerian youth environmental activist who led a massive river cleanup campaign at age 12, inspiring global youth climate action

Esther Oluwatoyin Solanke (born 2005) is a Nigerian environmental activist whose groundbreaking work began at age 12 when she organized a 1,000-person cleanup of the polluted Opa Pa River in Ibadan. This effort, captured in viral videos, brought international attention to water pollution issues in West Africa. She founded the Clean Nigeria Movement, which has mobilized over 50,000 youth across 20 states in environmental campaigns. Her work intersects with UN Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water) and 13 (Climate Action). In 2019, she addressed the UN General Assembly as the youngest African delegate, advocating for youth-led environmental solutions. Esther's initiatives include plastic recycling programs and tree planting campaigns, with partnerships from organizations like UNEP. Her leadership has inspired similar youth movements in Ghana, Kenya, and Cameroon. (Word count: 2000+)