By-Oluwaseyi Otitoju/ Hembadoon Ode
In a bid to promote raw materials development and curb environmental degradation, the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) is partnering with the Waste Pickers Association of Nigeria (WAPAN). This collaboration will include a comprehensive approach to data collection, collation about waste management in Nigeria, and training for members of the association on proper identification and classification of various waste materials for different industrial use.
During a meeting at RMRDC, WAPAN President, Comrade Salisu Ali Yarima, commended the Council’s role in driving innovation and resource optimization in Nigeria. He reiterated that the Council’s commitment to research and development in raw materials aligns with WPAN’s mission: to promote sustainable waste management practices, prevent environmental degradation, and alleviate poverty by creating value through waste management.
Mr. Yarima expressed the Association’s strong desire to partner with RMRDC in data collection, research, and development within the waste management sector.
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Welcoming WAPAN, the Director-General of RMRDC, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso expressed the Council’s willingness to collaborate with WAPAN through activities at the Centre for Circularity. He stated that repurposing raw materials would be crucial for the baseline data the Council is developing on the nation’s waste management sector. This data will form the basis for further research and development activities between the Council and WAPAN. The DG envisions a future where Nigeria’s scrap materials are no longer exported, smelted down, and re-imported to one where these activities are carried out within the Country, which will promote local value addition and encourage the adoption of a circular economy.
The Director of the Industrial Promotion and Consultancy Services Department (ICPSD), Mr. Lawal G. Suraj, lauded the initiative, highlighting the potential of waste materials in Nigeria for value addition and utilization by industries. He also applauded the Association for organizing the upcoming 1st National Waste Pickers Conference in the first quarter of 2025. Mr. Suraj emphasized the importance of data collection and management of waste picker practitioners for a sustainable waste management sector.
The Director of the Industrial Chemical and Pharmaceutical Department (IPCSD), Mr. Abubakar Kollere, commended WAPAN’s for embracing the global trend of a circular economy approach to waste management. He noted that this approach would conserve the environment and create opportunities for repurposing waste across all sectors into secondary raw materials. He added that the Director-General (DG) of RMRDC has established a Centre for Circularity dedicated to waste recycling.
The Deputy Director of the Rubber, Plastic, and Foam Division, Dr. (Mrs.) Oby Okafor, mentioned her long-standing advocacy for waste management, particularly paper waste management and the utilization of agricultural waste for the paper industry. She disclosed her current work on a technical brief for the paper industry and encouraged the Association to broaden the scope of waste management nationwide to ensure the sector’s sustainability.
WAPAN expressed gratitude for the Council’s planned support in facilitating research at the Centre for Circularity. This research according to them, will enable proper differentiation of plastic grades to meet various industry needs.
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