Photos courtesy of Linus Orakwe
Linus Orakwe is an environmental consultant from Nigeria who provides advice to governments, industries, development agencies, and private organizations on environmental management, compliance, sustainability, and risk reduction. In a GEF Voices interview, he shared life lessons from his work seeking to address pollution through both technical expertise and a strong sense of service towards people, communities, and the livelihoods that sustain them. His wish?: “I want my children to inherit a Nigeria where clean drinking water does not come wrapped in plastic that will outlive them.”
How did you get into this line of work?
I developed an interest in environmental work during my undergraduate studies in geology and mining, where an environmental geologist supervised my research project. That experience exposed me to the environmental impacts of resource extraction and sparked my interest in environmental sustainability.
To deepen my expertise, I pursued a master’s degree in environmental control and management, followed by a Ph.D. in ecology and environmental science. My first job was with the Lagos Waste Management Authority, which provided exposure to urban waste management challenges. I later transitioned to the private sector and subsequently moved into environmental consultancy, where I have focused on waste management, climate change, and sustainability projects.
Is there a GEF-funded initiative that is close to your heart?
One GEF-funded project that is particularly close to my heart is Plastic Reboot - Nigeria. Its systems-based approach (integrating policy reform, stakeholder engagement, and circular economy solutions) aligns strongly with my work and passion for waste management and environmental sustainability.
This ambitious five-year initiative is tackling plastic pollution from single-use water sachets across Nigeria by piloting innovative reuse and refill systems in urban communities, strengthening extended producer responsibility frameworks, and developing circular economy roadmaps that will be implemented in one state each from the six geopolitical zones in the country. By working directly with over 32,000 sachet water producers who supply 65 percent of Nigeria's drinking water, the project demonstrates that environmental sustainability and economic livelihoods can go hand in hand. It has showed that we can tackle plastic pollution while still protecting something as fundamental as access to safe drinking water, which reflects my belief that environmental solutions should improve people’s lives, not trade one problem for another.
My connection to the project is both professional and personal. I have spent my career working on waste management, but this project brought those professional passions into sharp personal focus. I have walked through communities where plastic sachets choke our drainage systems and have engaged with sachet-water producers who worry about what the transition means for their businesses and families. Therefore, this project is not just about policy and pilots; it is about ensuring that the people who built this industry and those who rely on their products are not left behind. It is personal because their stories have become part of my own, and because I want my children to inherit a Nigeria where clean drinking water does not come wrapped in plastic that will outlive them.
What life lessons have you learned from your work?
My work has taught me that real change takes patience, humility, and collaboration. Technical solutions alone are never enough — you have to understand people, institutions, and local realities. I’ve also learned that progress is often incremental, but consistency and integrity matter; small, well-implemented actions can create lasting impact. Most importantly, my job has reinforced my belief that meaningful environmental work is about service — protecting people’s livelihoods and the environment at the same time.
The state of the global environment is concerning. What gives you hope?
What gives me hope is seeing that solutions already exist and are being applied, even if not yet at the scale we need. Across the world — and especially in places like Nigeria — I see growing awareness, innovation, and collaboration among governments, communities, young professionals, and development partners. I’m encouraged by the shift toward circular economy approaches, where waste is increasingly viewed as a resource, and by the fact that environmental action is now being linked to livelihoods, health, and economic opportunity. Most of all, I find hope in people: when communities are engaged and given the right tools, they consistently show the willingness to protect their environment and build a better future.
What advice would you give a young person interested in a career like yours?
I would advise them to build a strong foundation, but also stay curious and open-minded. Environmental work is both technical and people-centered, so combine solid academic training with real-world experience as early as possible. Be patient with the journey — impact takes time — and don’t be afraid to start small or change direction as you learn. Most importantly, let purpose guide you; when your work is driven by a genuine desire to solve problems and serve society, the opportunities will come.
Plastic Reboot is a GEF Integrated Program working to transform how the food and beverage industry uses plastic in both packaging and products, with the goal to keep plastic out of nature. It includes 15 national-level projects that are eliminating single use and problematic plastic, designing for circularity, and changing systems to support circularity in practice. Plastic Reboot is co-led by UNEP and WWF, in partnership with UNDP and UNIDO.
