The Lagos Waste Management Authority, in partnership with European Union-backed stakeholders, has stepped up efforts to tackle construction and demolition waste in Lagos through the Green Waste Remediation and Recycling (GROW) Vocational Training Workshop.
The workshop, held at the LCCI Conference and Exhibition Centre, brought together policymakers, industry stakeholders, academics, and development partners to address the growing challenge of construction waste in a rapidly urbanising environment.
Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Muyiwa Gbadegesin, described the initiative as a strategic intervention aimed at closing technical skill gaps and aligning construction waste management with global best practices.
He said the GROW project is designed to promote sustainable waste practices, strengthen technical capacity, and foster collaboration among government agencies, training institutions, and industry players.
Gbadegesin, represented by Executive Director of Finance, Kunle Adebiyi, noted that the project is co-funded by the European Union under the ERASMUS+ programme and focuses on Nigeria and Mozambique as key growth economies facing rising construction waste challenges.
He added that LAWMA is strengthening its management of Construction, Demolition and Disaster Waste (CDDW) to improve handling from generation to disposal while promoting recycling and resource recovery opportunities.
According to him, the initiative will also support skills development, create jobs, and accelerate the shift from a linear to a circular waste management system.
Project Coordinator, Isabel Goncalves, described the workshop as timely, noting that the project is designed to deliver practical, skills-based solutions to manage increasing volumes of construction waste.
She said it would enhance workforce capacity, improve waste management outcomes across participating countries, and strengthen collaboration among stakeholders.
Participants from industry groups, academia, and the private sector also contributed to discussions, focusing on skills gaps, workforce development, and strategies to improve recycling and reuse.
Stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to advancing sustainable construction waste management practices and strengthening partnerships across Lagos and beyond.