LAWMA Academy, the educational branch of the Lagos Waste Management Authority, has recently welcomed a new cohort of candidates for its one-month internship program in April.
These interns are recent graduates from various universities across the country, representing diverse academic backgrounds.
Addressing the interns, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, the Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, congratulated them on their acceptance into the internship program. He emphasized the importance of this opportunity in facilitating their learning experience in waste management and its associated benefits.
Dr. Gbadegesin highlighted the transformative perspective that regards waste not as mere refuse but as a valuable resource. He encouraged the interns to seize the business prospects inherent in the circular economy, where what is traditionally considered waste can be transformed into wealth and contribute positively to individuals, society, and the environment.
According to him, “This internship will go a long way in exposing you to the positive and rewarding side of waste management. I am sure you are aware that nothing is a waste until you waste them. What used to be waste is now a resource that can be harvested to make money and improve lives. Indeed, it’s a long value-chain you can tap into, depending on your area of interest. It is a promising and highly rewarding venture.”
The head of LAWMA encouraged the interns to focus intently on the hands-on components of their training. He emphasized the importance of determination in becoming catalysts for environmental sustainability.
Echoing similar sentiments, Mr. Kunle Adebiyi, the Executive Director of LAWMA, urged the interns to fully utilize the knowledge they acquire. He encouraged them to identify and capitalize on their specific interests within the value chain, fostering personal enterprise and reaping the rewards thereof.
“This is a good opportunity for you to acquire knowledge and make money from modern waste management initiatives. What is important for you here, is to pay attention to the various things you will be taught, so that you can decide where to key in, for future enterprise and handsome financial rewards”, he said.
Last month, LAWMA Academy successfully conducted a one-month internship program for a group of graduate and post-graduate candidates, marking the first batch of interns for the year. These candidates underwent comprehensive training in modern waste management across various departments of the agency. Upon completion, they were awarded certificates following their group’s final project presentation—a detailed diagram illustrating the principles of the circular economy as it pertains to manufacturing industries, which they showcased to the LAWMA leadership.
Furthermore, LAWMA Academy has been actively engaged in environmental advocacy since the beginning of this year, reaching out to over 5,000 pupils from public schools across different areas of the state, including Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Mushin, Ijora –Olopa, Agege, Victoria Island, among others. These educational sessions aimed to enlighten students about LAWMA’s multifaceted operations, the detrimental effects of indiscriminate waste disposal, opportunities to generate income through recycling, proper usage of waste bags and bins, discouraging the use of cart pushers, and the importance of patronizing designated PSP operators.
The primary objective behind these initiatives was to expand the knowledge base on waste management, particularly targeting the younger generation. By instilling a new cultural orientation and perception towards waste management, LAWMA seeks to foster environmental sustainability. This effort forms the foundation for broadening participation, aiming to enlist as many young individuals as possible to serve as ambassadors for the environment, advocating for a people-friendly environment through a shift in culture and mindset.
The LAWMA Academy Internship program operates on a monthly basis, offering willing candidates the opportunity for environmental and waste management education.
