Hotspot 2023: Stakeholders highlight opportunities in waste-to-wealth innovations
By Moses Adeniyi
Stakeholders who attended the launch of Circular Economy Hotspot in Lagos yesterday have shed more light on the opportunities in waste-to-wealth innovations.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu formally unveiled the initiative at a conference organised by the State Government in collaboration with Circular Economy Innovation Partnership (CEIP) and African Circular Economy Network.
The two-day event with the theme: “Towards a Circular and Resourceful Economy: The Future Lagos,” is taking place at Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island.
Sanwo-Olu said the idea was critical to the future of Nigeria, noting that circular economy would proffer a programmatic approach to addressing global economic crises occasioned by pollution, climate change and loss of biodiversity.
Representatives of the African Circular Economy Network (ACEN), Mrs. Oluwakemi Ajakaiya, executive member, and Abayomi Magbagbeola, Country Representative, ACEN, said the circular economy hotspot concept was conceived to support collaboration, knowledge sharing and exchange ideas towards a circular economy.
According to them, Lagos houses potentials without any limitations for a robust circular economy.
They added that circular economy is “not a rhetoric,” but involves projects to create a regenerating system with benefits to the economy.
According to them, though seen as waste management system, circular economy involves broader benefits, providing creative approach to keep resources in use and regenerate the ecosystem.
The Director, National Agriculture Seed Council, Bassey Unaowo, said the circular economy conversation would address environmental issues, while creating job opportunities with broad economic advantages.
Mentioning that it is pertinent to control the use of nylons and other plastic materials in agro chemicals and other packaging materials, he said the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development would partner with the Lagos State Government on strengthening the Lagos Circular Economy initiative on agriculture sector.
The Deputy Consul General and Economic Head of the Consulate of the Kingdom of Netherlands in Lagos, Leonie Van der Stijl, congratulated Lagos for being the first in Africa to organise the conversation.
According to her, it was more essential to take the conversation beyond the discussions to “practising what we preach.”
She said the Kingdom of Netherlands would further partner with the Lagos State in providing technical knowledge on the innovation towards the workings of circular economy.
She assured the commitment of the Netherlands towards opportunities around the initiative, mentioning that the Consulate have in recent years provided about 4,000 jobs for Lagos youths.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr. Ibrahim Yesufu said the 2023 hotspot will show the world what the government, the private sector and the youths are doing on the circular economy for a more resourceful economy.
Yesufu who was represented by Mrs. Oluwatoyin Agbenla, zonal head of the Ministry in Lagos, said the hotspot is coming at a time the economy is demanding needs to innovate for a robust revenue base.
Circular economy is a model of production and consumption which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as many times and for as long as possible.
The Lagos Circular Economy Hotspot 2023, the first ever circular economy hotspot in Africa was convened by the Lagos State Government in partnership with African Circular Economy Network (ACEN) and the Circular Economy Innovation Partnership (CEIP), supported by the Netherlands.
