Isatou Ceesay

Pioneering Gambian environmentalist who transformed plastic waste into economic opportunity through her recycling movement

Isatou Ceesay (b. 1972), known as 'Queen of Plastic Recycling', revolutionized waste management in West Africa through her innovative One Plastic Bag initiative. Growing up in Njau, Gambia, Ceesay witnessed firsthand the environmental and health crises caused by plastic pollution in the 1990s.

In 1997, she founded the N’jau Recycling and Income Generation Group (NRIGG), teaching women to transform discarded plastic bags into durable purses and accessories. This grassroots movement achieved:

• Removal of over 2 million plastic bags from the environment
• Economic empowerment for 2,000+ women across 40 communities
• Creation of Gambia's first recycling center (2012)

Ceesay's upcycling model combined environmental stewardship with microfinance, challenging traditional gender roles in Muslim-majority Gambia. Her work earned recognition from the UN Environment Programme and inspired similar projects worldwide.

Through workshops documented by TEDx, Ceesay continues advocating for circular economies. Her story features in children's books and UNESCO curricula, proving that local solutions can drive global environmental change.