The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), in partnership with Ororo Waste Management, has launched a two-day capacity-building programme to train waste pickers, market women and youths on the safe collection and recycling of used cooking oil.
The training, held at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Building in Alausa, Ikeja, is designed to promote environmental sustainability, strengthen the circular economy and create new income opportunities for participants.
No fewer than 23 youths, including Hausa and Yoruba-speaking participants, attended the first day of the programme, reflecting the initiative’s commitment to inclusive community empowerment.
Speaking at the event, the General Secretary of the Waste Pickers Association of Nigeria (WAPAN), Alhaji Suleiman Adama, described the initiative as a major step forward for Nigeria’s waste management sector.
He said the programme expands the role of waste pickers beyond collecting plastics and metals by introducing the recovery of used cooking oil, which is often disposed of indiscriminately, posing environmental and public health risks.
According to Adama, the initiative will not only reduce pollution but also provide an additional source of income for waste pickers and unemployed youths.
He further disclosed that households and food vendors who participate in the collection programme will receive incentives from Ororo Waste Management to encourage wider public participation.
Adama also appealed to government to provide operational support, including personal protective equipment, tricycles and other logistics to improve the efficiency and safety of waste pickers.
Participants commended the Lagos State Government and Ororo Waste Management for the initiative, describing the training as timely and impactful.
They said the programme had broadened their understanding of the economic value of used cooking oil recycling while equipping them with practical skills to support environmental sustainability and improve their livelihoods.
