Ngozi Nwanji

Nigerian environmental activist pioneering sustainable solutions for plastic pollution in oceans

Ngozi Nwanji is a Nigerian environmental engineer and founder of Ocean Recovery Alliance, an organization combating ocean plastic pollution through innovative recycling initiatives. Born in Lagos, Nwanji's work focuses on converting ocean plastics into valuable materials like construction blocks and furniture. Her 'Plastic to Profit' program empowers coastal communities to collect marine debris, creating jobs while reducing pollution. This circular economy model has diverted over 200 tons of plastic waste from Nigerian waters since 2018. Nwanji's collaboration with UN Environment Programme (UNEP) led to the Clean Seas Campaign, expanding her methods across West Africa. She developed the world's first mobile app 'Plastic Tracker' that maps plastic pollution hotspots using AI satellite imagery. Nwanji's TEDx talk How to turn ocean plastic into gold highlights her vision of waste as a resource. Her advocacy influenced Nigeria's 2020 ban on single-use plastics, and her methods are featured in the documentary Plastic Oceans. Nwanji's work aligns with SDGs 12 (Responsible Consumption) and 14 (Life Below Water), earning recognition as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader (2022). Her initiatives demonstrate how grassroots innovation can address global environmental challenges while fostering economic opportunities.