GreenVETAfrica hosts a full-day workshop on Green Waste Management to Promote Africa’s Green and Digital Transition
Like most developing countries with rapid urbanisation, limited public training and engagement, increased waste generation, lack of recycling culture, Nigeria and Ghana are prone to face slower growth in achieving the twin transition (green and digital) in alignment with the ambitious environmental objectives of the European Green Deal and the Europe – Africa strategic partnership.
To foster this, the GreenVetAfrica project took effect in both countries to promote sustainable waste management practices by designing an innovative green waste management and micro-entrepreneurship vocational education and training (VET) programmes for unemployed youth to improve their employability skills for financial stability and career satisfaction whilst promoting environmental sustainability and circular economy practices.
The workshop which occurred at the lagos chamber of commerce on 18th September, themed “Green waste management: Opportunities and Pitfalls” had over 50 participants and experts speak on future and current trends of sustainable waste management, current skill gaps in waste economy, challenges faced by communities and opportunities as well as the GreenVETAfrica training experiences by interns.
It was organised by Ms Elizabeth Ademola Head, Climate Change and Diplomacy at the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) partner of the GreenVETAfrica project. In her presentation, she spoke about the primary goals of the GreenVETAfrica project to address major skills needed in the Green waste space in West Africa. In doing this, extensive research was conducted at the early stage of the project with major stakeholders and policy makers as correspondents. The results presented at the workshop showed that intensive training is an effective way to address this goal.
The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) is a partner in the GreenVETAfrica project on shaping the Green waste management skills and jobs of the future. The authority’s initiatives towards this includes its yearly summer school, community engagements, internships, outreaches and workshops to promote effective waste management and recycling practices in Nigeria.
Area, an Italian SME focused on technology and knowledge transfer was represented by the Marketing Director Margherita Trestini. She highlighted how the project was developed based on concrete needs and opportunities for technical skills for waste valorisations in West Africa. Area is the coordinator of the GreenVETAfrica project.
A project that has identified Gaps in the green waste management training programs in West Africa has developed a full training programme and has trained over 100 students in lagos and kumasi on waste collection, waste aggregation, preprocessing, and the recycling and upcycling of waste into reusable material.
She also mentioned how leveraging e-learning platforms and digital applications has increased the rate of knowledge circulation in Nigeria and Ghana as long as Green Waste Practices are concerned. The GreenVETAfrica training modules are available on the smartstep e-learning platform. The program has also been initiated for accreditation for recognition and job opportunities in both countries.
Sustainable Waste Management Practices are not without pitfalls as Mr Waliu Balogun Chief Executive Officer at Polysmart Group spoke to the participants about the company’s journey on being one of Nigeria’s leading packaging and recycling factories and its contribution to environmental sustainability. Followed by co-founder, Circularity Africa limited Mr Seunfunmi Ogungbure on challenges in community waste management practices and opportunities there is. Interns from the GreenVETAfrica training were also present to recount their experiences. They described the training as transformative, focusing on the value waste management practice has and in the same light being able to make a social impact in their communities.
Executive Director Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) Mr Kunle Adebiyi and National President AWAMN Mr Olugbenga Adebola were also in attendance to give goodwill messages.
The workshop featured a discussion session dividing participants into groups to create more awareness of waste management problems, challenges, and possible solutions, followed by a road trip to Polysmart Group recycling factory for participants to have first-hand experience on the factory’s collection, recycling, and packaging processes.
The GreenVETAfrica Erasmus+ project is co-funded by the European Union and partners in this project include Pan Atlantic University, Asociación Mundus, Whizzy Academy, Federazione CNOS-FAP, Presbyterian Relief Services and Development
