LAWMA Launches CARES Initiative to Empower Youth for Cleaner Lagos

By Peter Emmanuel |

The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has launched the LAWMA CARES and Lagos Youth Initiative to strengthen youth participation in waste management and promote a cleaner and more sustainable Lagos.

The initiative was launched at the LAWMA headquarters in Ijora-Olopa, 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 participating in the programme.

Speaking at the launch, LAWMA Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, represented by the Authority’s Executive Director, Finance, Kunle Adebiyi, said the initiative was designed to equip young people with knowledge and skills to support responsible waste management and advance Lagos’ circular economy vision.

Gbadegesin said the programme would deepen youth participation through knowledge sharing, engagement, advocacy and collaboration, while creating opportunities for young people to contribute to solutions to the state’s waste management challenges.

He urged the participants to take the message of responsible waste management to their communities, schools and social networks, stressing that achieving a cleaner Lagos requires active participation from citizens.

LAWMA Targets Youth Participation in Waste Management

The LAWMA boss said the initiative would expose participants to key aspects of waste management, including waste-to-energy, circular economy, composting, recycling and the respective responsibilities of LAWMA and residents.

He said young people had an important role to play in promoting proper waste disposal and influencing environmental behaviour among their peers and within their communities.

According to him, LAWMA was committed to creating opportunities for young entrepreneurs to participate in emerging green industries as part of efforts to develop a more sustainable waste management system in Lagos.

He added that the Authority would work with youth and community organisations to promote sustainable waste management practices and strengthen grassroots participation in environmental protection.

Gbadegesin also said the initiative would provide a platform for young people to engage directly with LAWMA, share ideas, raise concerns and contribute to discussions on issues affecting waste management across the state.

Initiative to Promote Recycling, Circular Economy

The initiative will also focus on areas such as recycling, resource recovery and the development of community-based circular economy solutions, with participants expected to take part in advocacy and sensitisation activities.

LAWMA said it would continue to strengthen waste collection, enforcement, recycling and resource recovery while working with relevant stakeholders to develop practical responses to the state’s waste management needs.

The Authority also plans to facilitate periodic training and engagement sessions for participating youth organisations, as well as visits to LAWMA facilities to give participants a better understanding of waste management operations.

The programme is expected to provide young people with greater exposure to opportunities within the green economy while encouraging them to identify practical ways of turning waste into useful resources.

LAWMA said it would also support youth-focused communication channels and recognise impactful youth-led environmental initiatives as part of efforts to encourage sustained participation in waste management.

Youth Groups Pledge Support for Cleaner Lagos

Also speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of the Environment, Dr. Gaji Omobolaji Tajudeen, represented by the Director, Scientific, Mrs. Yewande Obasa, commended LAWMA for involving young people in the state’s environmental agenda.

Tajudeen urged the participants to become ambassadors of the Cleaner Lagos vision by promoting responsible waste disposal and environmental awareness among their peers and communities.

Earlier, the Chairman, NANS Lagos Chapter, Comrade Quadri Odewunmi, reaffirmed the commitment of participating youth organisations to supporting LAWMA’s waste management efforts.

Odewunmi pledged that the organisations would mobilise young people for clean-up exercises, advocacy campaigns and grassroots sensitisation on responsible waste disposal.

The participants also engaged LAWMA management on issues including waste collection, enforcement, community monitoring, illegal dumping, the activities of scavengers and cart pushers, recycling, material recovery facilities and stronger partnerships between the Authority, youth organisations and communities.

LAWMA said the participating organisations would expand advocacy and clean-up activities across their structures, while the Authority would sustain training, engagement and stakeholder partnerships to strengthen youth participation in environmental management across Lagos.