LAGOS/Nigeria: The Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN) is planning a dedicated training centre aimed at strengthening professional skills and improving standards across the country’s waste management industry.
AWAMN National President, Dr Olubenga Adebola, disclosed the plan in Lagos while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria on the sidelines of the Renewed Hope Climate Change Awareness Tour, organised in partnership with the Lagos State Government.
Adebola said the proposed Waste Management Resource Centre would occupy a dedicated floor of the association’s new building, which was scheduled for inauguration in September.
He said the centre was being developed as part of AWAMN’s efforts to address skills gaps in the sector through structured training, capacity development and skills acquisition.
According to him, sustainable improvements in waste management would require practitioners to have the appropriate knowledge and technical capacity to perform their responsibilities effectively.
The centre, he explained, would cater to people interested in working at different levels of the waste management industry, while also creating opportunities for professionals in related fields to acquire sector-specific knowledge.
Adebola said AWAMN was drawing inspiration from the United Kingdom, where waste management personnel undergo relevant training and certification.
He said the proposed centre would also accommodate journalists interested in environmental reporting, allowing them to develop a better understanding of waste management and other environmental issues.
“We are trying to model this Waste Management Resource Centre after what we have in the UK, to ensure that everybody knows,” he said.
“Even if you want to be a journalist, we create a space for you to further train on how to report on environmental issues or waste management.”
The association also plans to introduce younger Nigerians to environmental responsibility through the programme, with schoolchildren expected to form part of the training and awareness activities.
Adebola said the focus would not be limited to educating people about environmental challenges but would also encourage them to translate knowledge into practical action.
“Beyond awareness, we must also begin to include action. Apart from awareness, there must also be action,” he said.
On climate change, the AWAMN president said sustained public education and professional training were necessary to improve understanding of environmental challenges and strengthen responses to them.
He stressed that capacity development should be continuous rather than treated as a one-off exercise.
“If you don’t train them, then don’t blame them,” he said.
Adebola also commended the organisers of the Renewed Hope Climate Change Awareness Tour, describing their efforts as those of the “Three Musketeers” in advancing environmental awareness.
He said the initiative was consistent with AWAMN’s objective of promoting public awareness and encouraging improved environmental management practices.
The proposed resource centre comes as the Renewed Hope Climate Change Awareness Tour continues its broader campaign to take climate education and practical environmental action to communities across Nigeria. The national initiative describes itself as a campaign focused on sustainability and climate resilience.
