Oando Foundation Nigeria in partnership with Sumitomo Chemical, Japan and Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has trained primary school teachers on recycling and environmental sustainability.
The capacity building workshop on “Waste to wealth”, had participants drawn from Dada Olisa Primary School and Methodist Primary School, Papa Ajao, Mushin in Lagos. Teachers, parents and community members also participated in the workshop.
Executive Director, Plastic Evolution Initiative, Adekoga Austeen, who spoke on how to use waste nylon to make crafts like bags and caps, urged school pupils to consider venturing into waste recycling as a viable means of revenue generation for schools, communities and families.
According to him, school pupils stand to benefit immensely in the long run from the knowledge and in joining the campaign.
He advised participants not to keep the knowledge to themselves, but share with their friends and families.
“What you are learning today should not end here, but you should continue to practice it and by doing so, you should teach your neighbours, families and friends on how to make this craft because you can make a living from it,” he added.
Earlier, NCF project lead, Abidemi Balogun, said the main objective of the project is to ensure sustainable management of waste, which has become a problem in the world and turn it to wealth.
A community leader, Chief Mukaila Komolafe, who represented the Baale of the community, thanked Oando Foundation and Sumitomo Chemical for the initiative, stressing that it would help both the youth and the old, to learn on how to make a living with waste like nylon.
A teacher, who participated in the programme, Olatunji Saka, described the workshop as good and educative, said he learnt how to turn waste to money by using nylon to make crafts like bags, caps and foot mats.
According to him, what they learnt would go a long way in affecting their lives positively.
He thanked Oando Foundation, Sumitomo Chemicals and NCF for bringing the workshop to their doorsteps.