FG Advocates Tech-Driven Wealth Creation from Plastic Waste

The Federal Government has called on Nigerian youths to harness technology and innovation to convert plastic waste into wealth, saying the country’s environmental challenges can be transformed into economic opportunities.

It said adopting digital solutions for plastic waste management would not only reduce pollution but also create jobs, support entrepreneurship and deepen Nigeria’s transition to a circular economy.

The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, made the call on Monday at the Digital Peers International (DPI) Knowledge Management and Lessons Learned event on the project, *”Deploying the Power of IT-Engaged Youths in Effective Plastic Use and Plastic Waste Management,”* held in Abuja. The minister was represented by Senior Scientific Officer in the Ministry’s Department of Pollution Control and Environmental Health, Umaru Murtala.

The event came days after the project’s closing ceremony in Nasarawa State, where participants urged stronger environmental policies and stricter enforcement to curb plastic pollution and encourage recycling.

Lawal said the Federal Ministry of Environment had partnered with DPI since the inception of the initiative, providing technical support and policy guidance throughout the implementation of both phases of the project.

According to him, the programme has demonstrated that digital technology can equip young Nigerians with practical skills to develop innovative solutions for plastic waste management while opening up new business opportunities.

“The programme was well conceived because it is youth-based. When we came in, some of these young people were not even tech-savvy, but today many of them are developing applications that can support plastic waste management,” he said.

He said one of the major outcomes of the initiative was the development of customised receptacles for collecting Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) bottles, which have been donated to institutions, including Nasarawa State University, Keffi, and other organisations to promote recycling.

The minister also disclosed that some participants travelled to China to study global best practices in plastic waste management, enabling them to acquire knowledge that could be adapted to local realities.

Lawal said the ministry now regards waste as a valuable economic resource rather than an environmental burden.

“What you call waste is a resource to somebody else. We don’t see anything as waste. We see opportunities and resources,” he said.

He cited products developed during the project, including jewellery made from discarded plastics, noting that some had already been exhibited in China.

According to him, such innovations show that plastic waste can be transformed into commercially viable products capable of generating income and supporting livelihoods.

“What some people call waste is actually a natural resource waiting to be mined. That is why we now speak of urban miners rather than waste pickers,” he added.

On the possibility of expanding the initiative nationwide, Lawal said the ministry would review the project’s outcomes and make recommendations to its leadership on scaling up the model across the country.

Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Digital Peers International, Dr. Akin Fapohunda, described the knowledge management session as an opportunity to assess the project’s achievements and refine strategies for future interventions.

He urged participants to convert knowledge acquired during the programme into practical businesses, stressing that innovation becomes valuable only when applied.

“Every experience has value. The real value lies in making a business idea out of what you have learnt because knowledge on its own has little value unless it is applied,” he said.

Fapohunda also encouraged participants to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI), describing it as an indispensable tool for learning, innovation and enterprise development.

“We all need to become AI-compliant because AI is now the foundation of almost everything. The world is literally at our fingertips,” he said.

Project Chairman, Dr. Adeolu Odusote, said the completion of the project marked the beginning of efforts to transform youth-led innovations into commercially viable enterprises.

He said the next phase would focus on supporting innovators with mentorship, business development services, prototype refinement, investment readiness, enterprise registration, market access and strategic partnerships.

“Our next priority is to ensure these innovations move beyond ideas and prototypes into viable enterprises capable of creating jobs, attracting investment, solving environmental problems and generating measurable economic value,” he said.

Odusote disclosed that the project received 46 innovation concepts from young Nigerians, with the best ideas selected after rigorous technical evaluation.

He added that digital platforms developed under the initiative, including Green Genius and Eco Trade Hub, had progressed beyond the conceptual stage and were already providing practical solutions for communities.

“These platforms are no longer ideas. One is already available on the Play Store, and they will continue serving communities long after the project has ended,” he said.

He also said the organisation was exploring the use of recycled plastic materials in construction, including paving tiles for roads and other public infrastructure, as part of efforts to create sustainable markets for plastic waste.

According to Odusote, empowering young Nigerians with digital technology, innovation and strategic partnerships would help build a cleaner environment, strengthen Nigeria’s circular economy and create lasting employment opportunities.