By Abdullahi Lukman
As part of efforts to address Nigeria’s plastic pollution crisis, the Ecocykle Development Foundation (EDF), in partnership with the French Embassy, organized a one-day awareness and skill-building programme in Uke, Nasarawa State, on Saturday, June 21, 2025.
The initiative focused on training women and youth to turn plastic waste into valuable items such as handbags, shoes, and earrings.
Lauretta Boniface, EDF’s Executive Director, said engaging young people is crucial in solving waste management issues.
“Young people are full of creativity and innovation,” she noted, advocating for their inclusion in environmental conversations.
The event, themed: “Plastics to Creative Crafts in Communities”, aligns with EDF’s broader mission to promote sustainable livelihoods through recycling.
The programme also highlighted past EDF projects that converted plastic into interlocking tiles, furniture, and now, fashionable accessories.
Boniface explained that this focus on creative reuse is guided by what communities, especially women, are already interested in.
She further called on public and private stakeholders to collaborate on implementing practical and people-centered policies, warning against the continued practice of “copy-and-paste” legislation that fails to reflect local realities.
Muhammad Isa Bello, Director-General of the Nasarawa State Waste Management and Sanitation Authority (NASWAMSA), praised the initiative and expressed the state government’s commitment to supporting trained individuals and exploring partnerships with companies like Dangote Group to improve waste processing and create jobs.
Environmental advocate Emmanuel Obinna Nweze of the Ecosteward Foundation emphasized that plastic pollution is not just an environmental issue but also a social and health crisis.
His presentation urged Nigerians to “rethink plastic packaging and pollution” in a more comprehensive way.
Participants like Labaran Gero shared their excitement about gaining practical skills that can generate income.
“We are happy they came to teach us.
We can now support our families better,” she said.
World Environment Day 2025, observed globally under the theme “Ending Global Plastic Pollution”, served as a fitting backdrop for EDF’s grassroots approach to raising awareness and promoting sustainable practices at the community level. END