The North East Development Commission (NEDC), in collaboration with the Adamawa and Gombe State Governments, has begun training for youths on efficient waste management practices and modern methods of recycling. Some 150 youths are being trained in each state.
Speaking at the weeklong training on Monday, July 4, 2022, in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, Alhaji Shuaibu Audu, Commissioner for Environment, said domestic and industrial wastes have been a major challenge in the environment in the recent time.
Audu, represented by Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Cletus Gotel, said these days wastes had become a source of income generation and job creation.
He described the training as timely and commended the NEDC on the training as the outcome would be beneficial to the state government.
He congratulated the participants for the opportunity and urged them to actively participate to improve their skills.
Mrs Fatima Bakari, representative of the NEDC, said that the training was part of the series of activities organised by the commission towards addressing environmental challenges in the region.
According to her, waste disposal is a major contributing factor that causes illnesses and various forms of diseases in the society.
“Waste, if properly managed, could contribute to better health and even serve as a source of job creation and socio-economic development in our societies.
“You were selected to take part in this training, considering your importance in the society, as we know no society can ever develop without a major contribution from its youth population,” she said.
Dr Muhammad Aminu, a consultant, explained that 100 of the participants were scavengers.
Aminu said they would be educated on safety and good hygiene practices, how to deal with stereotype associated with scavenging and marketing.
He added that 50 other youths would be equiped with the requisite tools needed to build and sustain recycling businesses and also train others.
Mr Kabiru Mijinyawa, Chairman, House Committee on Environment, Adamawa Assembly, described the training as timely, commended NEDC and advised participants to take advantage of the opportunity.
Malam Adamu Lawan, NEDC’s Head, Environment and Natural Resources, said on Monday in Gombe, the Gombe State capital, that the exercise was designed to create job opportunities and empower the youths in line with the Commission’s manndate to provide intervention towards improving the wellbeing of people in the North-East region.
Lawan said the waste-to-wealth initiative focused at creating employment opportunities, enhance wealth creation, address pollution, degradation and other environment challenges,
According to him, the Commission is adopting strategies to convert huge wastes into something useful as a resources or products.
He explained that 150 youths would be trained comprising 100 waste collectors and 50 trainers, adding that Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) would bd provided to the trainees.
Lawan said the Commission accorded pririoty to the health of youths, hence the donation of the PPEs to protect them while they carry out their activities.
The NEDC official said the commission would set up a recycling plant in the state to cater for the waste generated across the local government areas of the state.
On his part, NEDC Focal person in Gombe State, Shehu Ibrahim, said the training was a partnership between NEDC and the Gombe State Government aimed at providing job opportunities for youths to become self-reliant.
Ibrahim urged the participants to take the training seriously to enable them to engage in productive activities and become employers of labour.
He commended the state government and other stakehokders for their efforts towards making the youths self-reliant.
Also, Ishaku Kure, Director of Environment, Gombe State Ministry of Environment and Forest Resources, described the training exercise as beneficial to the environment and humankind.
One of the trainees, Vesta Tuka, also described the training as relevant in view of the availability of the raw materials and wealth potentials in wastes.
Tuka commended NEDC and the state government for the initiative aimed at empowering youths to become self-reliant.
By Ibrahim Kado and Hajara Leman
