Policymakers and development stakeholders have expressed strong support for efforts to reposition plastic waste as a source of economic value in Nigeria. This endorsement aligns with a growing push to turn environmental challenges into opportunities for innovation, as young entrepreneurs in Abuja presented digital and technology-driven solutions to plastic pollution.
Youth Innovation Challenge
During the Top 10 final presentation of the Digital Peers International (DPI) and SGP Nigeria Innovation Challenge, youth teams showcased prototypes focused on recycling systems, behavioural change, and circular economy models. The programme, themed “Deploying the Power of IT-Engaged Youths in Effective Plastic Use and Plastic Waste Management 2.0,” brought together government officials, innovation experts, and environmental stakeholders to assess youth-led approaches to plastic management.
Key Voices
Dr Edith Yohanna Ishidi, Director of Special Duties at the Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO) under the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, emphasised that youth involvement is critical to solving environmental problems sustainably. She urged participants to prioritise innovation over credentials, stressing that solutions must address real-world needs rather than academic achievement alone. Ishidi also pointed to waste-to-energy solutions as a viable pathway for plastic management, but noted that high capital requirements necessitate government support for scaling.
Adeolu Odusote, Project Chairman of DPI/SGP 2.0 and Managing Director of Pearls Learning Hub, said the initiative was designed to move participants from ideas to implementation through structured mentorship and continuous evaluation. He explained that 400 youths were grouped into 100 teams and taken through multiple stages of assessment to improve their solutions.
Ishaq Abubakar-Ibrahim, Director of Waste Management at the Nasarawa State Waste Management and Sanitation Authority (NASWAMSA), described plastic waste as an underutilised economic resource with significant potential. He called for stronger collaboration between government agencies and private investors to expand recycling infrastructure and unlock value in the sector.
Call for National Recycling Policy
Polysmart Packaging Limited has called for the establishment of a national recycling policy and intensified awareness to drive more Nigerians, especially youths, into the recycling business. The firm gave the advice during its capacity development seminar, hosted recently in Lagos, in collaboration with Switch Recycling Innovations Limited and the Lagos State Recyclers Association.
Ernest Ubasineke, Group Head of Quality Assurance & Control at Polysmart Group, said that many plastics are being disposed of indiscriminately and called for a national framework to guide plastic collection.
Femi Idowu-Adegoke, Special Adviser on One Health to the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare and an environmental sustainability expert, said the recycling industry is already a multi-billion-dollar sector with limited awareness and needs to be better structured.
Taiwo Adewole, Country Manager for Eco-Cycle Plastic, a recycling company based in Lagos State, noted that much credit should be given to those at the bottom of the pyramid in the industry.
Wasiu Balogun, Group Managing Director of Polysmart Packaging, spoke on how Polysmart is positioning itself to drive innovation and growth within Nigeria’s recycling industry. He said the firm would continue to evolve with new innovations as a pioneer in the industry.
Awards to Recyclers
The seminar awarded N500,000 each to recyclers, including Orowole Ogunbayo, Bello Khairat, and Amusa Basirat Opeyemi Jewel Jesani, to support their recycling businesses.
