By Miriam Humbe
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal has assured the female staff of the Ministry of government’s support on turning house hold and workplace waste to wealth.
The Minister stated this while declaring open an empowerment workshop themed: “Unlocking Sustainable Future: Women Championing the Circular Economy” which held in Abuja recently.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mahmud Adam Kambari, the Minister said that the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration was poised to ensure that all environmental challenges were tackled to reduce the impact on women who are mostly affected and convert waste to wealth.
Balarabe reiterated that the Ministry was actively expanding its approach to tackle other forms of waste, which includes food and organic waste that contributes to greenhouse emissions, electric waste, that demands safe and sustainable recycling practices which transforms such waste into valuable resources and economic opportunities.
The Director of Planning, Research and Statistics of the Ministry, Mallam Jonah Stanley revealed that the workshop was meant to educate women in the Ministry on their roles as managers of household waste and the health risks of unmanaged waste.
Mr. Stanley commended key Stakeholders, Directors and Women for honouring the invitation and support to ensure the success of the workshop.
Mrs. Ibironke Olubamise, National Project Coordinator GEF-SGP, UNDP in her presentation during the workshop, assured the Ministry of its organisation’s readiness to support the empowerment of women as champions of Circular Economy.
Some of the presentations at the workshop included: Empowering women and girls as agent of change: Championing the circular economy for sustainable future, Gender Inclusive Plastic Waste Management: Practical Expression by GEF small Grants programme.
Others included, Principles and Benefits of embracing and implementing the Circular Economy: Women leading the way to Waste Management and Circular Economy, Waste to Wealth Opportunities for Women Empowerment : Overview of waste Management and Entrepreneurial.
Other papers presented were Plastic Pollution: Environmental and Health Impacts of water; A focus on women and vulnerable population, challenges , solutions and alternatives to plastic usage among others.
Highlight of the workshop was the demonstration of the usage of waste for clean and renewable energy by Engr. Mrs Bahijjahtu Abubakar, Director of Pollution Control and Environmental Health ( PV&EH ) in the Ministry.
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