Optimus Bank, a dynamic Nigerian financial institution committed to redefining the banking experience, has mobilized its employees, volunteers, and community stakeholders for a beach clean-up exercise at a beach space in Lekki, Lagos, off the Coastal Road. The initiative forms part of the Bank’s “PROTECT OUR COAST” campaign to promote environmental responsibility and action against coastal pollution.
Held to mark World Cleanup Day 2026, the exercise was organized in partnership with Shoreline Euphoria Limited and RESWAYE. It brought together employees, volunteers, community members, and other stakeholders to remove waste from the shoreline and raise awareness about the impact of plastic pollution and improper waste disposal on coastal environments.
The clean-up resulted in the collection of approximately two tonnes of waste and marine litter, including plastic bottles, sachet-water nylon, food packaging, cans, glass, and other solid waste. The collected materials were separated on site into recyclable and non-recyclable streams.
Recyclable materials, particularly plastics and other recoverable items, were channeled through appropriate recycling and resource-recovery pathways. Non-recyclable and residual waste were evacuated and disposed of through proper waste-management channels in partnership with the Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA).
The initiative forms part of Optimus Bank’s “Impact Starts with Us” platform, through which the Bank supports programs focused on environment, education, healthcare, and empowerment. The “PROTECT OUR COAST” campaign reflects the Bank’s belief that meaningful impact requires practical action, collaboration, and shared responsibility.
Dr. Ademola Odeyemi, Managing Director/CEO of Optimus Bank, said: “At Optimus Bank, we believe that our responsibility extends beyond the services we provide to the communities we serve. Protecting our environment is an important part of building healthier and more resilient communities, and today’s clean-up is a practical demonstration of that commitment.
“Through initiatives like PROTECT OUR COAST, we are encouraging our people and our communities to take action, work together, and create lasting impact. Sustainable impact is not achieved by one organisation alone. It requires individuals, businesses, and communities to play their part, and we are proud to contribute to that collective effort.”
The beach clean-up also provided an opportunity for Optimus Bank employees to step outside their everyday roles and contribute directly to addressing an environmental challenge that affects coastal communities and the wider society.
The partnership with Shoreline Euphoria Limited and RESWAYE highlights the importance of collaboration in tackling environmental challenges. By bringing together a corporate organisation, environmental-focused partners, volunteers, and community stakeholders, the initiative demonstrated how collective action can contribute to cleaner and healthier shared spaces.
Morolake Philip, Head of Corporate Communications at Optimus Bank, said: “Our coast is more than a stretch of sand and water; it is part of our shared home. PROTECT OUR COAST is about turning that understanding into action.
“We want to encourage people to look beyond a single clean-up day and think about the everyday choices that affect our environment, from how we use and dispose of plastic to how we care for the spaces we share. Lasting change starts when responsibility becomes part of our everyday behaviour.”
Beyond the clean-up, the initiative included environmental awareness sessions and sensitisation on plastic pollution and marine litter, followed by community engagement with beach users, residents, and other local stakeholders.
Waste segregation and recycling demonstrations showed participants how recyclable materials can be separated and recovered. Volunteer environmental education sessions also covered responsible waste handling and the protection of coastal ecosystems.
Through these activities, Optimus Bank promoted responsible waste disposal and circular-economy practices beyond the event, reinforcing the need for continued environmental awareness and responsible waste practices.
The Bank remains committed to working with relevant partners and stakeholders to promote practical action, inclusion, and responsible business, while contributing to healthier and more sustainable communities through its “Impact Starts with Us” platform.
Optimus Bank mobilises employees, communities to protect Lagos coastline on World Cleanup Day