By Faridat Salifu
Green Knowledge Foundation (GKF), in partnership with the University of Abuja, has launched an Organic Material Recovery Facility (OMRF) and Insect Museum aimed at transforming organic waste into valuable agricultural resources while reducing methane emissions, promoting circular economy solutions and advancing sustainable food production in Nigeria.
The facility, commissioned on Monday, at the University of Abuja Research Farm, is part of the Multi-Solving Action for Methane Reduction in Nigeria (MAMRN) project, supported by the Global Methane Hub and implemented by Green Knowledge Foundation in collaboration with the university.
The project seeks to address Nigeria’s growing organic waste challenge by demonstrating how discarded organic materials can be recovered and converted into useful products such as high-protein animal feed and organic fertiliser.
Designed as a national demonstration and learning centre, the facility combines composting technology and Black Soldier Fly (BSF) farming to provide sustainable alternatives to open dumping, burning and uncontrolled landfilling of organic waste, which contribute to methane emissions, environmental pollution and public health risks.
Speaking during the launch, Executive Director of Green Knowledge Foundation, Weyinmi Okotie, described the initiative as a major milestone in advancing practical solutions to Nigeria’s waste management challenges.
He said the facility would demonstrate the economic value of organic waste while creating opportunities for students, farmers, researchers, waste workers and communities.
According to him, the project would help change the perception of waste from being an environmental burden to becoming a valuable resource for agriculture and economic development.
“This facility will have a significant impact, and from today we will begin to see the many benefits it will bring. It will serve as an eye-opener to everyone and demonstrate the opportunities that exist within sustainable waste management,” Okotie said.
Representing the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Muhammad Umar Ndagi, described the initiative as a major achievement for the institution, noting that it reflects the university’s commitment to research, innovation and community development.
Ndagi explained that although the Vice-Chancellor could not attend due to other official engagements, he delegated him to represent the university at the event.
He said sustainable innovation requires strong partnerships and financing, adding that Green Knowledge Foundation had introduced a model capable of addressing environmental challenges while creating economic opportunities.
“Sometimes we are surrounded by opportunities without realizing it until someone points them out. Today, Green Knowledge Foundation has shown us that what we considered waste can actually become wealth,” he said.
The deputy vice-chancellor disclosed that the partnership was among the first Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed by the Vice-Chancellor shortly after assuming office, adding that the university would continue to support collaborations that promote waste-to-wealth initiatives.
He encouraged students to take advantage of the free training opportunities provided through the facility, saying the knowledge gained could help them become entrepreneurs and employers of labour.
“Someone is not simply giving you fish; they are teaching you how to fish. By the time you graduate, you should become employers of labour rather than job seekers,” he said.
Earlier, the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Professor Akeem Oyerinde, said the project demonstrated how research and innovation could provide practical solutions to environmental degradation and agricultural challenges.
He recalled that when the idea was first introduced, many people questioned whether insects could successfully convert waste into useful products.
However, he said the facility had proven that organic waste could be transformed into commercially valuable resources through scientific innovation.
According to him, the project provides an opportunity to create wealth while protecting the environment by reducing waste accumulation and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
Representing informal waste workers, Jawad Ahmed expressed appreciation to Green Knowledge Foundation for including waste pickers in the initiative.
He said the project had improved their understanding of proper waste management and provided them with better opportunities to contribute to the circular economy.
“Before now, we did not always handle waste properly, but through this project we are learning better and more sustainable ways of carrying out our work,” Ahmed said.
During a tour of the facility, project officials explained that organic materials such as fruit waste, including mangoes, oranges and other biodegradable materials, are collected and processed before being introduced into the Black Soldier Fly production system.
The larvae feed on the decomposing organic materials under controlled environmental conditions, including monitored temperature and humidity levels, before being harvested and processed into valuable products.
Officials explained that the Black Soldier Fly larvae are converted into high-protein animal feed for poultry, fish and livestock farmers, providing an alternative source of feed ingredients while reducing production costs.
The residue left after the larvae consume the waste, known as frass, is processed into organic fertiliser that improves soil health, increases biological activity and supports crop productivity.
Unlike some chemical fertilisers that may contribute to long-term soil degradation, officials said the organic fertiliser produced through the facility helps restore soil quality and supports sustainable farming.
The facility includes a composting unit capable of processing about 40 tonnes of organic waste, a Black Soldier Fly farm designed to convert about 60 tonnes of organic waste into approximately 20 tonnes of insect-based animal feed and organic fertiliser, a training and knowledge hub, and a Zero Waste Education Centre.
The training centre will provide practical learning opportunities for students, researchers, farmers and formal and informal waste workers on circular economy practices, climate-smart agriculture and sustainable resource recovery.
The organisers said Nigeria generates more than 32 million tonnes of waste annually, with over half consisting of organic materials that are often disposed of through environmentally harmful practices.
They explained that unmanaged organic waste contributes significantly to methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas with more than 80 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period.
Through the MAMRN project, the facility is expected to divert more than 960 tonnes of organic waste annually from dumpsites, mitigate between 96 and 192 tonnes of methane emissions each year, create green jobs and strengthen Nigeria’s circular economy ecosystem.
The initiative is also expected to support farmers through access to affordable organic fertiliser and alternative livestock feed, reduce production costs, improve soil health and create new green value chains across waste management, agriculture and logistics.
For communities, the project is expected to improve sanitation, promote environmental awareness, empower young people with new skills and encourage wider adoption of sustainable waste management practices.
The organisers said the facility represents more than an infrastructure project, describing it as a model of how universities, communities, government institutions, development partners and the private sector can work together to address climate change, strengthen food systems and create economic opportunities through sustainable organic waste recovery.