ABEOKUTA/Nigeria: The National President of the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN), Dr. Olugbenga Adebola, has been inducted as Grand Patron of CityScope Africa in recognition of his contributions to circular economy, waste management and sustainable development across Nigeria and the African continent.
The honour was conferred on March 27, 2026, during the African Circular Business and Environmental Sustainability Conference held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where stakeholders converged to discuss innovative approaches to environmental sustainability.
The investiture certificate was presented by Prof. Chinwe Obuaku-Igwe, Special Envoy to the Osun State Governor and Director-General on Climate Change and Renewable Energy, who described Adebola as a key figure in the sustainability ecosystem.
She commended his decades-long commitment to environmental advocacy, mentorship and efforts at strengthening professional standards within the waste management sector.
The event also featured the unveiling of a special commemorative magazine in honour of the Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Oladimeji Oresanya, who was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by AWAMN for his contributions to environmental sustainability and waste management.
In his remarks, Oresanya lauded Adebola’s enduring impact on integrated waste management in Nigeria and across West Africa, noting that his influence has spanned nearly three decades of service and innovation.
Delivering a paper at the conference, Dr. Adebola highlighted the need for enabling policies, incentives and robust regulatory frameworks to drive the growth of circular businesses.
He emphasised the shared responsibility of governments, private sector actors and citizens in safeguarding the environment, stressing that environmental conditions are directly linked to human health and well-being.
Adebola called on government at all levels to create an enabling environment for private sector participation by offering incentives, long-term concessions and infrastructure guarantees to attract investment into circular economy models.
He further advocated comprehensive policy reforms, broader stakeholder inclusion and the establishment of a green bank to provide affordable, long-term financing for sustainability-driven enterprises.
The conference brought together policymakers, environmental experts and industry leaders to explore strategies for advancing Africa’s transition to a circular and environmentally sustainable economy.
