By Barbara Nwaiwu
Environmental engineering experts have called on Nigeria to move away from the traditional “take-make-dispose” economic model and adopt a circular economy to tackle climate change, reduce waste and create employment opportunities.
The experts made the call on Sunday at the 9th memorial public lecture of late Samuel Fadahunsi, organised by the Nigerian Institution of Environmental Engineers (NIEE) in Benin City, Edo State.
The lecture, themed, “Engineering Climate Resilience and Circular Economy Solutions for Sustainable Development in Nigeria”, brought together environmental engineers, academics and other stakeholders.
The guest lecturer, Prof. Jacob Ehiorobo, called for increased investment in waste recycling facilities, including factories, saying Nigeria could unlock economic opportunities by treating waste as a resource.
Ehiorobo said research had projected Nigeria’s waste recycling market to reach N100 billion by 2030 and create more than 250,000 jobs within the period.
He also said available statistics showed that Nigeria generated more than 32 million tonnes of solid waste annually, with food waste and plastics accounting for a significant proportion.
According to him, circular economy principles encourage the reuse and recycling of materials instead of disposing of them after use, while climate action seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address global warming.
Ehiorobo said adopting circular economy principles could strengthen economic resilience through the creation of industries and jobs in recycling, repair, remanufacturing and sustainable agriculture.
“Adopting circular economy principles can spur innovation, as well as encourage the development of technologies that extend the life cycle of products and materials,” he said.
He added that investment in sustainable building materials and energy-efficient technologies could reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported goods while supporting local production and innovation.
He also identified digital platforms that connect consumers with repair and resale service providers as opportunities for promoting sustainable consumption and circular economy innovation.
“The circular economy will help in addressing key challenges like resource depletion, waste management, and economic resilience, unlike the traditional linear economy (take-make-dispose),” he said.
Ehiorobo said Nigeria needed strong policy frameworks and institutional support to maximise the benefits of a circular economy.
He called for policies that incentivised recycling, waste management and sustainable resource use, alongside partnerships involving international organisations, private sector actors and local governments.
“In order to develop an effective circular economy and climate action for sustainable development in Nigeria, there is the need for collaboration among the different agencies involved in climate action and mitigation in effective disaster risk response and reduction for the country,” he said.
In his keynote address, Prof. Emmanuel Akpaja of the Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Benin, highlighted mushrooms as a potential source of health and economic benefits.
The keynote address was titled, “Valorisation of Mushrooms in Environmental Engineering: Advancing Circular Economy, Climate Action and Sustainable Development in Nigeria”.
The President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Mr Alimasuya Rabiu, commended the organisers for sustaining the annual memorial lecture. He was represented by Mr Chukudi Akpoto, pioneer Chairman, NSE, Oredo Local Government Branch of Edo.
The National Chairman of NIEE, Mr Caius Umekesiobi, described Fadahunsi as a visionary and builder who believed engineering should serve humanity and protect the environment.
Umekesiobi said the theme was timely, describing the circular economy as a pathway for turning waste into wealth, reducing pollution, keeping products in use and regenerating natural systems.
Speaking on behalf of the Fadahunsi family, Dr Folake Olumogba thanked the NIEE for sustaining the annual lecture in memory of their late father.
The event was organised to honour the memory of Samuel Fadahunsi while promoting professional and public discourse on environmental engineering, climate resilience and sustainable development.
