Lagos Civil Society Participation for Development, LASCOP has empowered communities in Lagos Island and Apapa to combat climate through innovative waste-to-wealth initiatives, fostering grassroots sustainability.
On September 18, 2025, LASCOP concluded a three-day workshop in Lagos to evaluate its waste-to-wealth program, connecting waste management to market opportunities for sustainable impact. Partnering with Bread for the World (BFOW), LASCOP’s Citizens-Led Accountability Mechanism (CLAIM) for Mitigating Climate Change Impact project targets flooding, plastic disposal, and waste management. The initiative engages young people from these communities to raise awareness and drive collective action against climate change.
The event brought together community representatives, including Community Development Committees (CDCs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), traditional institutions, and officials from the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, the Office of the SDGs, and the Ministry of Youth and Social Development. Participants validated a report assessing current waste management and waste-to-wealth opportunities, emphasizing market connections for sustainability.
Omolara Olusaiye, CLAIM Project Manager, described waste as a “gold mine” with economic potential for young people. “This initiative can reduce unemployment by informing citizens about climate change impacts and opportunities in waste management,” she said.
She highlighted that plastics, organic waste, paper, and metals can be exchanged for income at designated collection points.
Olusaiye acknowledged the strength of existing federal and state climate change policies but noted weak enforcement as a challenge.
“We still have weak enforcement, that’s why we look at working with young person from these two communities to carry out activities that will be sustainable at the end, hoping and planning to scale up to other Local Government Areas, LGAs in Lagos State,” she noted.
She also announced the next phase of action which is to train a large number of people in the community where participants would be like climate change agents in those communities.
Mr. Iyke Kimemenihia, a researcher and Project Consultant harped the profitability of waste, particularly plastics, metals, and compost. “There is a lot of money that has been made by those who clearly understand the market,” he confirmed, explaining that presently, the selling point is on the plastics and metals while the compose waste is in high demand.
He proposed a policy that works, suggesting separation of waste. “If the government can have free set of trucks where people can drop compose waste, plastic, metal and paper waste. This policy can work by improving on the enforcement.” Kimemenihia stressed.
While commending government for their work, he emphasized on the need to open up their plan so that people can partner with them.
He also commended NGOs and community leaders for doing remarkable work in sensitizing people but still requested government support, “Civil society need to be supported to be able to make this initiative a huge success because the awareness is still at the very low level.”
“I think government should come up with a stronger policy because it is good on paper but the implementation is very weak. Civil society should be empowered and funders should come into the picture for more sensitization,” he added.
Dr. Sylvanus Egwu, former Chairman of Olorunwole Progress CDA and a representative of persons with albinism, stressed the importance of sensitization. “Waste can be converted to wealth if more people are educated, as LASCOP is doing,” he said. “Waste can be converted to wealth if more people are sensitized like what LASCOP is doing today.”
He advised participants to spread the gospel of waste-to-wealth in their various communities while he promised to enlighten others and continue in the business of turning waste-to-wealth.
Aside from turning waste-to-wealth, its for our own good to recycle these waste so that they don’t find their way into our rivers, he stated.
Comrade Rita Bekibele, a representative of National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, Apapa communities, shared her experience from the workshop on Climate Change mitigation, how to adapt when needs arise within the environment and promised to take the message of waste-to-wealth to her community, saying, “I’ve learned how to properly dispose of waste, like using organic leftovers for farming, and how to generate wealth from waste,” she said. She pledged to educate her community on sustainable waste disposal and its economic benefits.
LASCOP’s waste-to-wealth initiative is empowering Lagos communities to combat climate change, turning environmental challenges into opportunities for economic growth and sustainability.