Governor Dapo Abiodun has charged stakeholders in the industrial sector including chemical handlers and users as well as men and women on the front lines of e-waste processing, to come up with a concrete Ogun State E-Waste and Circular Economy Roadmap for more effective management of electronic waste and creation of more job opportunities for people in the state
Governor Abiodun who was speaking on Thursday in Abeokuta, while declaring open the fourth edition of Annual Chemical Users and Handlers Workshop which has its theme "Transforming E-Waste Into Opportunities: Circular Economy Solutions For Ogun State", revealed that his administration recycled 2,000 metric tonnes of plastic waste daily through eight notable recycling companies in the state
Abiodun represented by the State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Ola Oresanya, said the present administration's "Blue Box programme", initiative has brought organized recycling to households, turning environmental consciousness into a daily habit.
The initiative according to him, is contributing significantly to the management of the 1.6 million metric tonnes of waste being generated annually as a state.
The governor disclosed that a
$40 million EV assembly plant is being planned to create over 60,000 jobs, positioning Ogun State as Nigeria's pioneer in clean transportation while the CNG Vehicle Conversion Programme is aggressively pursuing Compressed Natural Gas alternatives with vehicles in government's fleet now converted to CNG
"We have converted our government bus fleet from petrol to CNG-powered, and in partnership with the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, we are training Vehicle Inspection Officers, Fire and Safety Officers, and technical staff on safe CNG retrofit procedures".
Governor Abiodun therefore urged participants at the annual workshop to produce a functional Multi-Sector Stakeholder Task Force and ensure Trained, certified chemical handlers ready for safe practice in the environment
"We will transform hazardous dumping into valuable recovery. We will replace poisoned air with productive employment. We will prove that environmental leadership is economic leadership"
"We will transform hazardous dumping into valuable recovery. We will replace poisoned air with productive employment. We will prove that environmental leadership is economic leadership", Abiodun urged stakeholders
The State Commissioner for Environment represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Kafayat Lawal described the workshops as more timely , saying Nigeria generates over half a million tonnes of e-waste annually and Ogun State as a major industrial hub , is uniquely positioned to turn this challenge into opportunity
"When poorly managed, e-waste contaminates our soil and water and poses a serious public health risks- particularly to our children. But when properly harnessed , it becomes a resource that can drive innovation, create jobs and support sustainable economic growth"
Oresanya called on the financial institutions seen as significant generators of electronic waste and custodians of sensitive data, to see secure and certified recycling not only as environmental responsibility but also a critical element of data protection and corporate governance
The objective of the workshop according to him, is to advance development of a draft Ogun State E-waste and Circular Economy Roadmap and establish a multi-sectorial taskforce to drive its implementation
Similarly, the Director General of Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency(NESREA), Prof . Innocent Bariko described Ogun State, as a strong industrial base and forward-looking leadership, saying the state is well positioned to lead the transition.
"It is therefore important to bear in mind that e-waste is not merely an environmental challenge; it is a strategic opportunity waiting to be harnessed. I therefore wish to encourage the State government to consider establishing a formal e-waste recycling facility through Public-Private Partnerships. Collaborate with partners to advance recycling technologies"
He urged the state government to also invest in proper collection infrastructure in collaboration with EPRON, so as to creating job opportunities for more people
The NESREA boss equally enjoined the administration to integrate the informal sector - retain them and integrate them into official collection and sorting systems to ensure safety and improve efficiency of e-waste management
He called for support of NESREA in the implementation of the EPR programme formal adding that the agency will always play its role as regulators
"We must improve compliance with environmental laws, increase capacity in all sectors of the value chain, encourage investments in ecologically friendly technologies and foster collaboration across governments, industries, and communities"
General Manager of Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency, OGEPA, Hon. Kehinde Bello had earlier in his welcome speech , expressed the commitment of the agency towards a structured, safe, and forward-thinking framework for e-waste management
He called for collaboration among government, industry players, development partners, and the wider community
"This workshop is one of the platforms through which we aim to strengthen that collaboration, share knowledge, and promote best practices particularly in critical areas such as safe chemical handling in e-waste recycling", he stated
Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment, Engr. Kehinde Akintomide assured the existing and prospective investors that Ogun State remains committed to sustaining a peaceful, secure, and business-friendly environment where enterprises can thrive.
He encouraged the industries to make Corporate Social Responsibility a core pillar of their operations, saying investments that positively impact their surrounding communities through employment, skills development, education, health support, and environmental responsibility create legacies that endure beyond commerce.
The workshop attracted over 500 participants from industries, civil society, academic and international community
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