LAGS Empowers Retirees  On Waste Plastic Recycling

Lagos State Government has commenced a five-day training programme on waste plastic recycling for retirees of the Lagos State Public Service.

In his welcome address at the event held at the Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium, Alausa Secretariat Ikeja, the Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, said the aim of the training programme was to provide the retirees with the requisite knowledge, skills and competences that would be useful in accessing opportunities in plastic recycling space and its value chain.

The Head of Service, represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of Service, Mrs. Sunkanmi Oyegbola, assured the participants that the present administration would continue to assist in building capacity and creating opportunities for private-public sector collaboration in effective waste management.

Muri-Okunola further stated that the training programme on Waste Recycling is not only apt at the moment but also vital in the education of Lagosians on the identification and segregation of wastes and its proper disposal, available opportunities in the waste plastics value chain and other economic advantages inherent in the general management of wastes.

He said: “I am confident that this programme will go a long way in promoting the right attitude to the management of wastes, particularly during this rainy season, to complement the State government’s efforts on its environment and health policies aimed at preventing environmental hazards and promoting waste to wealth initiatives”.

“Let me also affirm that the programme was in fulfilment of the promise by the present administration that no one will be left behind in the implementation of the T.H.E.M.E.S agenda, our retirees inclusive”, he added.

The HoS assured the participants that the State Government will continue to assist in building capacity and creating opportunities for private-public sector collaboration as well as supporting innovation and knowledge sharing for the enhancement of mutual benefits and advantages in all spheres of the economy.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of Service, Mrs. Sunkanmi Oyegbola, whose address was read by the Secretary, Staff Housing Board, Mr. AbdulRafiu Fashola, said the training programme marks another stride in the commitment of the present administration to run an inclusive governance policy that supports retirees to contribute their quota to the growth and development of Lagos State.

She hinted that the training would enhance knowledge and promote an attitude to enable all the participants to acquire insight about the general management of wastes in the environment and raise awareness of opportunities inherent in plastic recycling.

Also in his goodwill message, the Managing Director, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, said there are many gains in managing plastic wastes, urging participants to make the best use of knowledge acquired at the training.

While noting that indiscriminate disposal of plastics, the amount of space it occupies at landfills and its non-biodegradable nature have raised concerns at different fora in recent times, Odumboni congratulated the participants for having the opportunity to participate in the unique programme organised by the State government.