Young people across Lagos are being enlisted as frontline advocates in the state’s fight against indiscriminate dumping and other waste management challenges.
The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has launched the LAWMA CARES and Lagos Youth Initiative, designed to equip young Nigerians with practical knowledge and skills to promote responsible waste management and advance the state’s circular economy agenda.
The initiative, which took off with about 60 youths drawn from the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Lagos Watch Alliance and Youths for Sustainability, was unveiled at the LAWMA headquarters in Ijora-Olopa.
Speaking at the launch, LAWMA Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, represented by the Executive Director, Finance, Kunle Adebiyi, stated that young people had a critical role to play in changing public attitudes towards waste.
Gbadegesin said the programme would expose participants to waste management operations, waste-to-energy, composting, recycling and other aspects of the circular economy, while helping them understand the respective responsibilities of LAWMA and residents in keeping Lagos clean.
He said LAWMA was also seeking ways to open opportunities for young entrepreneurs in emerging green industries and deepen collaboration with youth and community organisations.
The initiative will provide a platform for young people to engage directly with LAWMA, raise concerns, share ideas and contribute to practical solutions to waste management challenges across Lagos.
Gbadegesin urged participants to take the message beyond the launch venue and into their schools, communities and social media platforms.
He stressed that government alone could not achieve sustainable waste management without active citizen participation.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of the Environment, Dr. Gaji Omobolaji Tajudeen, represented by the Director, Scientific, Mrs. Yewande Obasa, commended LAWMA for bringing young people into the state’s environmental campaign.
She urged the participants to become ambassadors of the Cleaner Lagos vision by encouraging responsible waste disposal and environmental awareness among their peers.
Chairman of NANS Lagos Chapter, Comrade Quadri Odewunmi, pledged the support of the participating youth organisations, promising to mobilise young people for environmental clean-ups, advocacy and grassroots sensitisation.
The participants also questioned LAWMA management on issues including waste collection, enforcement, illegal dumping, community monitoring, scavengers and cart pushers, recycling and material recovery facilities.
Other areas of discussion included circular economy opportunities and stronger partnerships between LAWMA, youth organisations and local communities.
Under the next phase of the initiative, participating organisations are expected to expand clean-up and advocacy activities, while LAWMA plans to organise periodic training sessions, facility visits, youth-focused communication programmes and recognition for outstanding youth-led environmental initiatives.
The Authority also plans to explore community-based circular economy projects and broader media partnerships to increase youth participation in environmental management.
With Lagos generating huge volumes of waste every day, LAWMA said the initiative was part of its broader effort to make young people strategic partners in building a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable state.
By Innocent Onoh
