Editor
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting women in transforming household and workplace waste into valuable resources.
This assurance was given during the opening of an empowerment workshop titled “Unlocking a Sustainable Future: Women Championing the Circular Economy,” held recently in Abuja.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mahmud Adam Kambari, the Minister highlighted that the current administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda is determined to address environmental challenges, reduce their impact on women—who are disproportionately affected—and turn waste into wealth.
Lawal emphasized that the Ministry is broadening its strategies to address various waste types, including food and organic waste, which contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, and electronic waste, which requires safe and sustainable recycling practices. These efforts aim to transform waste into valuable resources and generate economic opportunities.
In his welcome address, the Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics, Mallam Jonah Stanley, stated that the workshop aimed to educate women in the Ministry on their roles as household waste managers and the health risks associated with unmanaged waste. He praised the participation and support of key stakeholders, directors, and attendees in making the event a success.
During her presentation, Mrs. Ibironke Olubamise, National Project Coordinator for the GEF-SGP under the UNDP, assured the Ministry of her organization’s commitment to empowering women as leaders in the circular economy.
Presentations at the workshop included topics such as “Empowering Women and Girls as Agents of Change: Championing the Circular Economy for a Sustainable Future,” “Gender-Inclusive Plastic Waste Management: Practical Applications,” and “Principles and Benefits of Implementing the Circular Economy: Women Leading Waste Management.” Additional sessions covered “Waste-to-Wealth Opportunities for Women’s Empowerment: An Overview of Waste Management and Entrepreneurship” and “Plastic Pollution: Environmental and Health Impacts on Women and Vulnerable Populations—Challenges, Solutions, and Alternatives to Plastic Use.”
The workshop also featured a demonstration by Engr. Mrs. Bahijjahtu Abubakar, Director of Pollution Control and Environmental Health, showcasing how waste can be utilized for clean and renewable energy solutions.
