The Chairman, Green Hub Africa, Prof. Obas Ebohon, has said Nigeria is uniquely positioned to lead Africa’s environmental revolution and innovation, ahead of the global celebration of the 2025 World Environment Day.Ebohon said this at a webinar to commemorate GreenHub Africa/UN World Environment Exhibition (WEDex) 2025.The session brought together top leaders in policy, enterprise, and sustainability to explore practical, scalable waste solutions for Nigeria.At the webinar tagged: “From Pollution to Innovation: Aligning Policy, Enterprise and Community for Sustainable Waste Solutions in Nigeria” Ebohon said the planet communicates to us in various ways, including rising temperatures and the vagaries of climate change.He said over 300 million tons of plastic waste are generated globally each year, with only 9% effectively recycled. “In Africa alone, we generate approximately 17 million tons of plastic waste annually, yet our recycling infrastructure captures less than 4% of this volume.”But today is not about dwelling in despair—it’s about transformation. It’s about recognising that within every environmental challenge lies an innovation opportunity waiting to be unlocked,” he said.He said the pivotal World Environment Day webinar gathered environmental thought leaders, policymakers, and grassroots champions to signal a new era for the country’s sustainability agenda.”Nigeria stands uniquely positioned to lead Africa’s environmental revolution. With our population of over 220 million people, our actions ripple across the continent and beyond,” he said.He noted that with a population of over 200 million people, Nigeria faces intense environmental pressures, from plastic-choked waterways in Lagos, to waste management crisis in Kano, and ecological degradation in Ogun state.“Yet, far from isolated problems, these challenges reflect global patterns—making Nigeria a proving ground for locally rooted, globally relevant solutions.“Today is a sign that every environmental challenge leads to innovation.“What makes today’s dialogue powerful is the realignment of three critical forces: policy leadership, enterprise innovation, and community engagement,” Ebohon said.The don explained the critical role Nigeria’s informal waste sector, which employs over 500,000 people play.He further explained that rather than replace these critical workers, efforts should be geared towards their formal integration, dignity, and support through innovation and inclusive policy.“Every plastic bottle is not just waste—its raw material for housing blocks, packaging, and textiles. Every organic waste strain holds energy potential.“The policy frameworks we build today are the foundations for tomorrow’s green industries. Let this be the generation that turned the tide on environmental degradation in Nigeria.“Let’s harness the same entrepreneurial energy that built our tech ecosystem to now build a thriving environmental economy,Ebohon said.On his part, The Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Ola Oresanya, called for a unified action to transform waste into wealth in the country.Oresanya while delivering a keynote said Nigeria is transforming its waste management crisis into a platform for innovation, economic opportunity, and environmental sustainability.He said Nigeria faces urgent challenges—from plastic-choked waterways and illegal dump sites to rising health hazards and environmental degradation with over 32 million tonnes of municipal solid waste generated annually in the country and less than 40 per cent properly collected.He added that the challenges presents an opportunity for Nigeria to lead the Africa in circular innovation and green reform.He noted that a unified national approach—aligning policy, enterprise, and community action would drive transformative change in Nigeria’s waste value chain.“Waste is no longer just an environmental threat—it is an untapped resource.“By realigning policy leadership, private sector innovation, and community engagement, Nigeria can become a model for sustainable development and green job creation in Africa,” Oresanya said.He called for stronger policies such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), tax incentives for better funding and tax incentives for circular economy practices, among others to tackle the challenge.“Policy Innovation: Nigeria’s National Policy on Solid Waste Management (2020) provides a framework for action, but weak enforcement and poor coordination at local levels hinder progress.“Stronger policies such as EPR, tax incentives for circular economy practices, and better funding for local governments are needed.“Enterprise-Driven Solutions: From recycling SMEs to digital waste collection tools, Nigeria’s private sector has begun pioneering circular economy strategies.“Large corporations are urged to take greater responsibility by investing in sustainable packaging, green infrastructure, and smart waste management technologies,” he said.He called for a coordinated waste management task force involving federal agencies in charge of the environment, private sector leaders, and community representatives.He envisioned a future where Nigeria leads Africa in environmental innovation:Plastic waste is transformed into affordable construction materials.He said that the vision would see recycling hubs thrive in every urban community, while smart policies ensure zero-waste cities and communities drive behavioral change at the grassroots.He added that the future would also see Nigeria meeting SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and supports global efforts for a plastic-free future.“Let us channel the same innovation that built Nigeria’s tech sector to now build an environmental sector that is inclusive, profitable, and resilient.“Together, policymakers, enterprises, and communities can turn the tide—and turn waste into wealth,” Oresanya said.Panelists at the webinar called stricter enforcement of Nigeria’s environmental laws to deter further environmental violations. Dr Tunde Ajayi, General Manager of Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), said Lagos had strong policies, but implementation and enforcement remained a major challenge. Ajayi warned that without tougher consequences, environmental offences would persist unchecked and worsen over time. Dr Osuji Otu, National Programme Officer, UNIDO Sub-Regional Office, Nigeria, advised the government to partner with the private sector, particularly in environmental policy formulation and execution. Mrs Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO of Sterling One Foundation, said Nigeria had commendable environmental policies needing better integration of circular economy principles. She acknowledged Lagos State’s active partnerships but called for a stronger framework for enforcement, monitoring and evaluation. According to her, involving stakeholders was key to ensuring policies were fully implemented and sustained. Mr Olumide Lala, Co-Founder of Climate Transition Ltd, advocated including waste management in the national educational curriculum. He urged households to begin sorting waste at the source for effective recycling and disposal. Lala also called for full enforcement of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy across all sectors. Mr Obuesi Phillips of SWEEP Foundation proposed a dialogue between policymakers and grassroots communities for better policy alignment.
