In bid to address the issue of waste management and environmental pollution challenges, Ecocykle Development Foundation has empowered 150 out-of-school teenagers in Nasarawa State, on how to use plastic waste to produce eco-bricks.
This training programme tagged “Education and Recycle in Slum Initiative” which is aimed at educating and job creation for out-of-school children living in slums with the knowledge and skills on sustainable waste management.
Speaking at the event, Executive Director of Ecocykle Development Foundation, Aliyu Umar Sadiq stated that the project is currently empowering the out-of-school children in Nigeria including the Almajiris.
Sadiq said, “Our expectation is for the project to sparkle and harness the creativity of these young teenagers into developing sustainable solutions which can directly reduce waste pollution in communities, create green jobs and reduce the poverty rate.”
“Our plans is to train over a 1,000 young people on acquiring the skills needed to create value from waste in next few years.”
He also called on the State Government to revive the existing recycling plants in the state to serve as educational and capacity-building hubs for the people in State, which he believes can foster green economic development and boost environmental protection.
A community recycle volunteer, Peace Kpaka, said, the intervention was to reach out to and empower children and youth in rural communities with skills aimed at fostering an inclusive circular economy and fostering sustainable development.
“The children have been highly participatory with super thought-provoking questions which reflect the magnitude of their creative thinking ability to solve problems with the right information, knowledge and skills.”
Meanwhile, Co-founder of Ecocykle Development Foundation, Ms. Lauritta Boniface, expressed her fulfillment and the impact of the project on the children.
“So far, we have trained about 400 children under the OYA Recycle project and I am overwhelmed by the impact that the project is having on the children that we have trained.”
In his response, the coordinator of Mallam Atiku Sangaya, Muhammad Sharifudeen, thank Ecocykle Development Foundation for its foresight and concern to equip teenagers in the slums.
The training programme provided its participants with practical hands-on training and mentorship from industry experts.
