The Lagos State Government, in partnership with the Charitable Network for Community Empowerment (CHANCE), has trained market women in Ikeja on environmental sustainability and waste management. The initiative, held at Computer Village to mark International Women’s Day, focused on educating traders about proper waste disposal, upcycling, and sustainable agriculture.
Founder of CHANCE, Olajumoke Saliu, said the collaboration aimed to empower women by transforming waste into economic opportunities.
“We want to sensitise our fellow women, who are market leaders and traders within Ikeja Computer Village, on the importance of proper waste management, environmental sustainability, and upcycling,” Saliu said. She explained that the training would help them find creative ways to repurpose waste materials, including for urban farming.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Climate Change and Circular Economy, Titilayo Oshodi, stressed the importance of climate literacy, noting that public awareness about sanitation choices and their impact on the environment was crucial. She said Computer Village was chosen due to its high waste generation, adding, “We are building an ecosystem of climate-friendly citizens in Lagos. Our goal is to help people transition away from the throwaway culture and embrace circularity.”
Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals, Dr. Oreoluwa Finnih, highlighted Lagos State’s policies against environmental degradation, recalling last year’s ban on Styrofoam and ongoing efforts to discourage single-use plastics.
“If we don’t manage our waste, it ends up in landfills or the ocean. Eventually, we become victims of our own mismanagement,” Finnih warned.
Founder of the Foundation for a Better Environment, Temitope Okunnu, urged traders to see waste as a business opportunity.
“Waste is not a waste until you waste it. We need women to understand that their waste is a resource,” she said. She explained that traders would be trained to convert discarded tires into furniture and other marketable products while also learning waste segregation techniques.
Iyaloja of Computer Village, Abisola Azeez, expressed appreciation for the initiative, noting that traders already separate metal and plastic waste for a fee but were unaware of other income-generating possibilities.
“This training will help our traders turn waste into income,” she said, assuring that market women would adopt waste recycling in their businesses.
