Let’s be honest, the word sustainability is everywhere. It’s on corporate flyers, Social media bios, and school projects. But ask the average Nigerian youth what it means, and the answer is usually, “Isn’t it about saving the planet?”
Well, yes, and no.
Sustainability isn’t just about hugging trees or banning plastic bags. It’s a real-life concept that affects your job prospects, your food prices, your daily hustle and your future.
So, what exactly is sustainability?
In simple terms, Sustainability is living well today without messing up tomorrow for those coming after us.
Think of Nigeria as one big family compound. We’re all using its resources; water, land, energy, trees. Now imagine your children and grandchildren having to live in the same compound. If we’ve used up the borehole water, burned our forests, and polluted the air till people need inhalers just to breathe, what exactly are we passing down? We must realise “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.” — Native American Proverb
The heart of sustainability is balance. It’s about using what we need now, but with care, so there’s still something left for tomorrow.
The Big 3: The Three Pillars of Sustainability
Sustainability stands on three strong legs:
- Environmental Sustainability
This one is about keeping our land, air, and water clean and useful. That means no illegal logging, no burning tyres, and definitely no throwing engine oil or plastic bottles into the gutter. If the environment suffers, we all suffer.
- Social Sustainability
This is about fairness and human rights. It means good healthcare, education, equality, and safety for everyone; no matter your tribe, gender, religion, or class. A society where people thrive, not just survive.
- Economic Sustainability
This isn’t just about sharing palliatives or startup grants. It’s about building systems that create real, long-term jobs. Supporting businesses that are responsible and fair. Growing an economy that includes the poor, not one that leaves them behind.
When these three work together, society runs smoothly.
But why should we care?
Because the impact is already here, not 50 years from now. If you’re young and Nigerian, sustainability touches everything from your career options to your quality of life.
- Flash floods? A result of poor waste disposal and blocked drainage.
- High food prices? Blame desertification, unpredictable weather, and bad farming practices.
- Unemployment? Linked to unsustainable policies, corruption, and lack of investment in youth-led innovation.
This isn’t about polar bears or melting ice caps in Canada. It’s about us. Our streets. Our wallets. Our future family.
So what can we actually do?
No one’s asking you to stop using your generator overnight or live in the bush. Start with small, consistent actions:
- Buy better. Support local businesses that produce responsibly.
- Reduce waste. Stop throwing pure water sachets and plastic bottles on the road. Reuse what you can, recycle when possible.
- Speak up. Talk about it online, in school, in your church or mosque. Demand better policies.
- Stay informed. Read more. Listen to podcasts. Follow sustainability leaders. Learn how the system works and how it can work better.
CSR-in-Action and Youth Involvement
One of the organisations leading this movement in Nigeria is CSR-in-Action. From working with communities on climate education, to helping industries adopt sustainable business models. We are making sustainability practical and real, especially for youth.
We have supported platforms that give youth a voice in environmental justice, published sustainability reports for major companies, and hosted forums where Nigerian youths are not just listeners, but leaders.
Sustainability is not a fancy word. It’s about our survival. It’s about choosing today to build the kind of Nigeria we want to live in tomorrow.
So, the next time someone drops the word “sustainability,” you won’t just nod. You’ll know, and maybe even do something about it.
References:
Native American Proverb: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/8702
United Nations (2022). Sustainability and the SDGs.
National Bureau of Statistics (2023). Youth and Environment Report.