In a significant step towards youth empowerment in the green sector, the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and Green VET Africa, have hosted a maiden workshop, highlighting the potential in green waste management and entrepreneurship.
The event, held at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Ikeja, according to Kadiri Folashade, LAWMA’s Director, Public Affairs, was co-funded by the European Union, aiming to provide hands-on learning experiences for young participants from Nigeria and Ghana.
The workshop which followed a series of Green VET Project trainings geared towards equipping youths with skills in sustainable waste management and entrepreneurship, was supported by LAWMA’s technical expertise, to address the growing need for vocational education in the sector.
LAWMA’s Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, in his keynote address delivered by Mr. Kunle Adebiyi, an Executive Director in the agency, emphasised LAWMA’s commitment to circular economy, where waste was viewed as valuable resource.
He said, “LAWMA’s key role is to attain a sustainable environment which can only be achieved if we all embrace sustainable waste management practices. We want to have a city where we will all be conscious of our actions and cherish our waste as resource.
Gbadegesin expressed delight at agency’s involvement in the initiative, adding that the workshop would help enrich knowledge, providing entrepreneurial opportunities in the process.
“The Authority is honoured to be a major player in this green initiative. So many people are ignorant of the opportunities in waste management. This workshop will no doubt bridge the knowledge gap and also expose each and everyone here, to some technological innovations in this sector, which can be leveraged for entrepreneurship advantage”, he said.
Margerita Treslini, the Area Marketing Director of Apodissi, co-founder, and General Manager, representing Green VET Africa, highlighted the origins of the initiative, which according to her, was born out of the realisation that vocational training in waste management was underdeveloped in both Europe and Africa.
“Our mission is to organise developmental training programmes in waste management in Africa, having observed the sector is not given the required attention, especially the opportunities in the sector.
“Spain, Ghana and Nigeria are involved in this project and we are grateful LAWMA has helped us with her technical expertise and knowledge in the waste sector, to train 100 students from Nigeria and Ghana. Here we are today, all the trainees have been taught and we progress from there”, she said.
LAWMA’s Project Director for Green VET Africa, Mrs. Ademola Elizabeth, gave an overview of the project’s objectives, which aligned with the European Green Deal’s environmental goals. She explained that the project aimed to equip 100 participants from Lagos and Kumasi, with essential skills in green waste management and micro-entrepreneurship, to boost their employability.
“Basically, this project is to promote technical vocational training for youths in Nigeria and Ghana. A total number of 100 participants have been trained in Lagos and Kumasi, respectively on green waste management and micro-entrepreneurship to improve participants’ entrepreneurial and employability skills”, she noted.
Speaking further on the team’s achievement so far, Ademola noted that one of the major gains of the initiative, was the identification of specific stakeholders in the green waste management sector, who would share their experiences in the entrepreneurship journey.
“Today is all about articulating all that have been learnt into actionable goals. That is why we have invited stakeholders in the waste management sector, who will share their success stories, with challenges, so that the participants can learn from their experiences.” she stated.
Also in her presentation, Mrs. Jirinsola Olaleye, Head of LAWMA’s Circular Economy Department, who spoke on “Recycling: The Lagos Story”, encouraged participants to embrace the habit of sorting waste at the source, a crucial step towards a more sustainable environment.
The workshop also included a goodwill message from Mr. Olugbenga Adebola, President of the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN), who commended the Green VET Africa initiative, stressing the importance of collaboration to maintain a clean and healthy environment.
Representing the Lagos Recyclers Association, Financial Secretary, Mrs. Omoh Alokwe, spoke on behalf of the president, Dr. Femi Idowu, emphasising the vast opportunities in recycling and urging participants to remain focused despite challenges.
The workshop featured breakout sessions where participants discussed the opportunities and challenges in the recycling sector, followed by group presentations and feedback.
Other notable attendees included Polysmart Group Managing Director, Mr. Wasiu Balogun; CEO of HygienePlus, Mr. Abdul Ganiy Oyekunle; a representative from United Waste, Mr. Haroon Bello, among others.
