Sahara Group Foundation, the corporate sustainability vehicle for Sahara Group; Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), an agency under the Lagos State Government for job and wealth creation and Wecyclers, a recycling social enterprise, have launched the first of its 12 recycling hubs (in partnership) under the Go Recycling project.
The other hubs will be rolled-out across several local government areas in Lagos State soon. The hubs, first of which was launched at Isolo Local Government Area, Lagos, aim to promote a sustainable environment, create jobs and empower the people of Isolo community to adopt recycling as an effective waste management practice with some financial reward, with the potential to support a movement of environmentally conscious Lagosians.
Director, Sahara Group Foundation, Ejiro Gray, who spoke at the launch said the event is a testament of “our commitment to continue to impact lives and livelihoods across diverse communities. Today, together with our partners – LSETF and Wecyclers, we have brought to life a sustainable initiative capable of spurring a favourable and widespread behavioural change where Lagosians will reimagine their waste management practices and adopt recycling”.
Gray further stated that the project will contribute to the development of a circular economy in Lagos and reduce the amount of waste generated in the city significantly. He urged the people of Isolo to take advantage of the Go-Recycling project and help transform their lives and communities positively by making a commitment to promote a cleaner, healthier and thriving community for today and future generations.
On her part, Omolara Adewumi, Director of Programmes and Coordination, representing the Executive Secretary, LSETF, Teju Abisoye, said: “Through this initiative, we hope to empower the Isolo residents by providing them with an opportunity to earn while also contributing to a greener future. We believe that this recycling hub will not only benefit individuals but also have a positive impact on the community as a whole. We are excited to partner with Sahara Foundation and Wecyclers, organisations that are leading the way in building a sustainable future for Lagos State.
Addressing guests at the launch, the Chief Operating Officer, Wecyclers, Oluwayemisi Lawal, said “At Wecyclers, we believe that waste is not a problem, but an opportunity. Our partnership with Sahara Foundation and LSETF has enabled us to take this opportunity and turn it into a sustainable business model. The Go-recycling project will help us to reach and empower more individuals to take action towards a cleaner Lagos, and we believe that it will inspire others to join us in our mission to build a better world for generations to come.”
The Go-recycling project rollout is set to positively influence the recycling narrative in Lagos, with all 12 hubs set to be launched before the end of the year.