The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and Green VET Africa presented their first workshop, showcasing the possibilities in green waste management and entrepreneurship, marking a significant step towards youth empowerment in the green sector.
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The European Union co-funded the event, which took place at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Ikeja, with the goal of giving young people from Ghana and Nigeria practical learning experiences.
The workshop, which addressed the growing need for vocational education in the industry, came after a series of Green VET Project trainings designed to give young people skills in sustainable waste management and entrepreneurship. The trainings were made possible by LAWMA’s technological competence.
In his keynote speech, LAWMA’s Managing Director/CEO, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, underlined the Authority’s dedication to the circular economy, which views trash as a useful resource. Mr Kunle Adebiyi, the Executive Director, was in attendance. “LAWMA’s primary goal is to create a sustainable environment, which we can only do by adopting sustainable waste management practices among ourselves,” he stated.
We envision a city in which everyone would be aware of what they do and value their waste as a resource. Gbadegesin expressed gratitude to LAWMA for taking part in the project and added that the workshop would contribute to knowledge enrichment while presenting chances for entrepreneurship. Being a key partner in this environmentally friendly endeavour is an honour for The Authority.
The prospects in waste management are so widely unknown. Without a doubt, this session will close the knowledge gap and introduce everyone to certain technological breakthroughs in this field that may be used to one’s benefit as an entrepreneur’, he said. The initiative’s origins were highlighted by Margerita Treslini, the Area Marketing Director of Apodissi, co-founder, and General Manager, speaking on behalf of Green VET Africa.
She stated that the initiative was sparked by the realisation that waste management vocational training was lacking in both Europe and Africa. Our goal is to provide waste management training programs that are progressive in nature throughout Africa. We have noticed that the industry does not receive the attention it deserves, particularly when it comes to opportunities.
This project involves Spain, Ghana, and Nigeria. We are appreciative that LAWMA provided us with assistance in training 100 students from Ghana and Nigeria by sharing her technical experience and understanding in the garbage sector. Now that all of the learners have received instruction, we move forward from there, she stated. Mrs. Ademola Elizabeth, Project Director for Green VET Africa at LAWMA, provided an outline of the project’s goals, which complemented the environmental targets of the European Green Deal.
She clarified that the project’s goal was to increase the employability of 100 participants from Kumasi and Lagos by providing them with the necessary skills in microentrepreneurship and green waste management. “The main goal of this project is to encourage technical vocational training for young people in Ghana and Nigeria.”
To enhance participants’ entrepreneurial and employability abilities, 100 people received training in green waste management and microentrepreneurship, respectively, in Kumasi and Lagos, the speaker reported. Speaking further about the group’s accomplishments thus far, Ademola pointed out that one of the initiative’s main successes was the identification of particular stakeholders in the green waste management industry who would be willing to share their experiences as entrepreneurs.
Today’s focus is on turning all of the knowledge gained into practical objectives. To help the attendees benefit from their experiences, we have asked players in the waste management sector to share their success stories and problems.
During her presentation on “Recycling: The Lagos Story,” Mrs Jirinsola Olaleye, Head of LAWMA’s Circular Economy Department, she urged attendees to adopt the practice of sorting garbage at the source, which is an essential step in creating a more sustainable environment. The Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN) President, Mr. Olugbenga Adebola, gave a goodwill message during the workshop.
He praised the Green VET Africa program and emphasised the value of cooperation in preserving a clean and healthy environment. Speaking on behalf of President Dr. Femi Idowu, the Financial Secretary of the Lagos Recyclers Association, Mrs. Omoh Alokwe emphasised the many potential in recycling and urged attendees to stay focused in the face of difficulties.
Following group presentations and comments, the program included breakout sessions where participants explored the prospects and difficulties facing the recycling industry.
Mr. Wasiu Balogun, the managing director of Polysmart Group, Mr. Abdul Ganiy Oyekunle, the CEO of HygienePlus, and Mr. Haroon Bello, a representative of United Waste, were among the other important attendees.
