NIGERIA – The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) is launching a month-long training program to equip students from various universities with skills for sustainable waste management.

These participants are envisioned to become agents of change and advocates for environmental sustainability.

The training curriculum offered at the LAWMA Academy covers a spectrum of critical topics in effective waste management.

This includes resource recovery, innovative solutions for segregation and logistics, waste recycling, models for Private Sector Partnership (PSP), waste financing, waste audits, forensic waste analysis, and strategies for transforming waste into valuable resources.

Recent graduates from universities across Nigeria will delve into these areas, gaining comprehensive insights.

Lagos, with its population of nearly 16 million, contends with a daily waste generation of almost 13,000 tonnes, posing significant environmental and public health challenges such as malaria and cholera outbreaks.

The accumulation of rubbish in some areas renders the surroundings uninhabitable due to the overpowering stench.

Throughout the 30-day training program initiated by LAWMA, Nigerian students will engage with environmental consultants, waste management professionals, project managers, and community coordinators, providing them with practical experiences in the waste management sector.

Transitioning Lagos to a circular waste economy requires more than theoretical knowledge; it necessitates robust waste management infrastructure, stringent regulatory frameworks, and collaborative efforts among stakeholders from the government, private sector, foreign investors, and civil society.

It’s important to note that Lagos is not alone in facing waste management challenges. Effective waste management systems are crucial across Nigeria’s 1,199 other metropolises.

The country generates approximately 32 million tonnes of solid waste annually, with only a fraction properly managed, emphasising the urgent need for comprehensive waste management strategies nationwide.

Ethiopia launches a campaign to reduce pollution in its cities

Shifting focus to Ethiopia, the federal government is launching a national campaign between April and August 2024 to combat air pollution.

The initiative addresses deteriorating air quality caused by industrial activities and population growth.

Ethiopia ranks 95th out of 184 countries in terms of air quality, largely due to industrial activities and rapid population growth. The campaign targets 30 million urban dwellers.

Its goal is to raise awareness about environmental measures and promote ecological practices to improve urban living conditions.

The campaign, supported by the United Nations system and other diplomatic representations, seeks the involvement of major companies and multinationals based in Ethiopia, whose waste production significantly impacts air quality.

Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh underscores the urgency of environmental protection, emphasising that it’s not a luxury but a matter of survival.

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