Stakeholders Endorse Youth-Led Push to Turn Plastic Waste into Economic Value

Policy makers and development stakeholders have expressed strong backing for initiatives aimed at converting plastic waste from an environmental burden into a viable economic asset in Nigeria.

The support reflects a widening national conversation on circular economy models, as young innovators in Abuja showcased digital and technology-driven solutions targeted at reducing plastic pollution and improving waste recovery systems.

The ideas were presented during the Top 10 Final Presentations of the Digital Peers International (DPI) and SGP Nigeria Innovation Challenge, where youth teams demonstrated prototypes spanning recycling technologies, behavioural change tools, and circular economy solutions.

The programme, themed “Deploying the Power of IT-Engaged Youths in Effective Plastic Use and Plastic Waste Management 2.0,” brought together government representatives, innovation experts, and environmental stakeholders to review youth-led approaches to plastic management.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Edith Yohanna Ishidi, Director of Special Duties at the Sheda Science and Technology Complex under the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, said young people must be central to environmental problem-solving.

She urged participants to focus less on academic credentials and more on practical solutions capable of addressing real-life challenges.

“It is not all about producing a fantastic CV. It is about solving problems, thinking outside the box and providing solutions,” she said.

Dr. Ishidi also highlighted waste-to-energy systems as a promising option in plastic management, while noting that high capital costs make government intervention essential for scaling.

“Government must key in because a single individual cannot procure the facilities required for waste-to-energy processes,” she added.

Chairman of DPI/SGP 2.0 and Managing Director of Pearls Learning Hub, Adeolu Odusote, said the initiative was structured to move participants beyond ideas into implementation through mentorship and continuous assessment.

According to him, 400 youths were grouped into 100 teams and taken through iterative evaluation stages designed to refine their solutions.

“We’ve brought 400 young people together and the idea is to make them learn about plastics and generate ideas that contribute to solving the challenges around plastic waste management,” he said.

He explained that the repeated review process was intentional to improve quality and practical relevance of the projects.

“Asking them to go back, look at the project, and improve on it is part of the process,” he said.

Odusote added that final results would be unveiled at the closing ceremony, stressing that long-term engagement mattered more than immediate financial rewards.

“If you give the money today, many of them will not come back,” he said.

From a regulatory standpoint, Ishaq Abubakar-Ibrahim, Director of Waste Management at the Nasarawa State Waste Management and Sanitation Authority (NASWAMSA), described plastic waste as an untapped economic resource.

“There is nothing like plastic waste, because plastic waste is money,” he said.

He called for stronger collaboration between government agencies and private investors to expand recycling infrastructure and unlock value across the sector.

“As a government agency, private investors are partners in progress,” he noted.

One of the innovators, Vivian Maduekwe, Team Lead of E-Cycle under Digital Peers International, presented a gamified platform designed to reshape how children aged six to 12 perceive plastic waste.

She said the platform uses interactive learning tools to encourage early behavioural change and environmental awareness.

“What we are working on is we want people to see plastic not as waste anymore, but as an opportunity for education and dignity for the female child and environmental health,” she said.

Maduekwe explained that the system uses game-based learning to connect children with real-world recycling practices in an engaging format.

“We are utilising a game platform where they can connect to the real world and change their perspective about plastic,” she said.

She, however, noted that limited technical expertise in areas such as artificial intelligence and game development posed challenges to full implementation.

“We are not game developers, so we had to undergo training in technology and artificial intelligence,” she added.

Another participant, Abduljib Yusuf, Team Lead of Nature’s Heart Foundation, said his Plastic RRI initiative focuses on using plastic waste as a tool for education, inclusion, and community development.

He explained that the project also integrates menstrual hygiene support and access to learning materials for vulnerable children, with expansion plans dependent on funding.

“We want people to see plastic not as waste anymore, but as an opportunity for education, dignity for the female child, and a cleaner environment,” he said.