A waste manager, Prof. Dele Osibanjo, on Tuesday, August 14, 2018 advised the three tiers of government to be involved in the training of youths in waste management.
Osibanjo, the President, Waste Management Society of Nigeria (WAMASON), gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
“Let the various levels of government get involved in the training of youths in waste management.
“The time is now for all to join hands to see waste as a resource and wealth provider to reduce unemployment in the country,” he said.
According to him, a lot of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) owned by youths are involved in the ‘Garbage Green’ aimed at teaching people on effective ways to handle waste.
“There are people going around dustbins, picking materials and reselling them to make a living.
“Waste is a goldmine of the future, as people buy into it.
“There is a great unemployment, especially among the youth, and this should not be,’’ Osibanjo said.
He said that WAMASON was providing training for the NGOs to ensure that those saddled with waste collection were equipped with sound waste management.
Osibanjo said that more people needed to be trained as waste managers on a continuous basis.
He said that with the slogan ‘Gab Green’, the youth’s outlook on waste could be changed for better with the establishment of recycling companies in different parts of the country.
Osibanjo said that such step would also serve as an avenue for advocacy on proper waste management.
“Now, people build houses on waste dump sites. Many housing estates are being developed on waste dump sites.
“Many government housing programmes are being planned on waste dump sites.
“All these are chemical time bombs waiting to explode,” he said.
By Chidinma Agu