The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), in collaboration with European Union-backed partners, has intensified efforts to address construction and demolition waste challenges 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, academia, and development partners to deliberate on sustainable solutions to the growing burden of construction waste in a rapidly urbanising city.
In his welcome address, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Muyiwa Gbadegesin, described the initiative as a strategic intervention aimed at bridging technical skill gaps and repositioning construction waste management in line with global best practices.
Represented by the Authority’s Executive Director, Finance, Kunle Adebiyi, he explained that the GROW project was designed to support the green transformation of the construction sector by promoting sustainable waste practices, strengthening technical capacity, and fostering collaboration among government, training institutions, and industry players.
Gbadegesin noted that the project, co-funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Programme, focuses on Nigeria and Mozambique as key growth economies grappling with rising construction waste challenges.
He added that LAWMA is strengthening the management of Construction Demolition and Disaster Waste (CDDW) to ensure efficient handling from generation to disposal, while unlocking opportunities for recycling and resource recovery.
According to him, the initiative will also drive skills development, create employment opportunities, and accelerate the transition from a linear to a circular waste management system.
In her remarks, the Project Coordinator, Isabel Goncalves, described the workshop as timely, noting that the project is focused on delivering practical, skills-based solutions to construction waste management.
She added that the initiative would enhance workforce capacity, improve waste management outcomes across participating countries, and strengthen collaboration among stakeholders.
The workshop featured technical sessions and breakout discussions on skills gap assessment and workforce development, with participants proposing actionable strategies to improve recycling, reuse, and efficiency in construction waste management.
Stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening partnerships, strengthening policy implementation, and advancing sustainable construction waste practices in Lagos and beyond.
Reporting by Innocent Onoh