The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources in Ekiti State, Tosin Aluko-Ajisafe, emphasized the state government’s commitment to implementing efficient waste management practices to enhance the appeal of the sector for potential investors.
This declaration was made during a seminar named “Capacity Building for Effective Municipal Solid Waste Management” held on Friday in Ado Ekiti, the state’s capital, and facilitated through a partnership between the state government and the United Nations Habitat.
She remarked, “The partnership between Ekiti State and UN-Habitat, aimed at accurately determining the daily volume of waste generated, will foster further development, enhance recycling processes, and convert waste into wealth, thereby boosting the state’s development.
“This collaboration, which led to the registration of Ado Ekiti in the African Clean Cities Platform, will also result in a cleaner and healthier environment.”
Mercy Odhiambo, UN-Habitat representative, emphasized the importance of accurate data collection in tackling waste management challenges.
She explained that the WaCT training will enable environmental officers to evaluate waste production, engage stakeholders, and create informed waste management plans.
Akintobi Olusanmi, UN-Habitat’s technical support to Ekiti State, highlighted that effective waste management in Ado Ekiti is a vital component of the Ekiti State Sustainable Urban Development Programme, a initiative developed by the UN.
Olusanmi stated, “Some investors and donors are willing to support the state, but there is a lack of data on the waste generated in Ado Ekiti and throughout Ekiti State. We are here to train people on how to gather and input data on waste generation in Ado Ekiti, enabling us to provide insights for investment and attract investors to the waste management sector. This training serves as a ‘train the trainer’ session on how to use the tool effectively.”
The Director-General of the Ekiti State Waste Management Agency, Sunkanmi Onipede, stated that the ultimate goal is to build wealth from waste. He elaborated, “Accurate data will elevate us to the donor level, attracting investors to our waste management efforts.”
Onipede highlighted ongoing efforts, noting, “On a smaller scale, we have revived our recycling plant at Ilokun Dumpsite. Although this is currently at a minimal scale, once the study is complete and we have sufficient data, investors will be able to significantly enhance our operations. Most of our plastics will no longer leave Ekiti, and with a properly managed compost plant, the dumpsite could create jobs for at least 1,000 people in Ekiti, which is crucial for us now.”
He further emphasized , “The materials at the dumpsite need to be identified and utilised effectively.”
Babatunde Alokan, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, outlined the ministry’s current initiatives aimed at maintaining the cleanliness of Ado Ekiti city.
He stated, ” The government has provided 20 Dino bins for waste collection at strategic locations. In the next few weeks, an additional 20 bins will be produced, making a total of 40 Dino bins. With these, our task force officers will be fully equipped, and we will soon achieve efficient waste collection across Ekiti State.”
