BrandiQ Report
Carbonated soft drinks giant, Coca-Cola has joined in strategic partnership with the Advancement of Waste Management in Africa, a non – governmental organization on a project initiative that aims at promoting waste as valuable currency for social good and economic inclusion across the country.
Under the partnership, Coca-Cola, acting through its philanthropic subsidiary, The Coca-Cola Foundation, has provided a grant towards the project execution which involves the establishment of green recycling hubs in Lagos as well as the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The fund provided will be channeled to the building of seven solar-powered recycling hubs in satellite towns in the FCT, including Nyanya, Zuba, Bwari, Kuje, Gwagwalada, Jikwoyi and Galadimawa, communities where residents will be encouraged to adopt the habit of recycling and turn their waste into wealth.
According to the project coordinators, the eighth other solar-powered recycling hubs would be built in a low-income suburb of Lagos.
Speaking on the NGO’s objectives, the Convener, W.A.S.T.E Africa initiative, Olufunto Boroffice, observed that adequate financing for the collection and disposal of plastic waste was one of the biggest issues impacting recycling in Nigeria, pointing out that one primary challenge in the project is scaled recovery of plastic bottles.
She, however, expressed appreciation to The Coca-Cola Foundation for providing the funds to expand the operations by creating eight green recycling hubs, empowering over 3,000 waste pickers and women, many of whom were living in indigent homes with little or no educational backgrounds
Beneficiaries of The Coca-Cola Foundation funding to W.A.S.T.E Africa will include over 1,600 women who will be recruited as waste pickers and sorters in these communities. For these women, knowledge about waste separation and sorting of recyclable material will provide an economic lifeline especially in this period where millions of Nigerians are losing their jobs because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The women waste pickers will be provided with financial literacy, safety training, and as well as the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
The NGO will also be launching the Bottles for Books initiative. Through this project 800 out-of-school children will be enrolled in the educational system. Using recyclable waste as a currency, out-of-school children in Kabusa, Kpaduma, Gwagwalada, and Kubwa communities will be enrolled in schools guaranteeing their right to quality education. In addition, Project Protect 10,000 (P10K) initiative will also be launched. Through this project, 1,000 waste pickers or ‘scavengers’ are going to be supported with genuine social inclusion programs with opportunities throughout the broader economy. The waste pickers will be provided with financial literacy, safety training as well as the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs). They will also gain access to financial inclusion and literacy training.
Speaking at the launch ceremony in Abuja, the Honorable Minister of State for the FCT, Hajia (Dr.) Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu remarked, “The scheme will empower the youths and at the same time clean the environment. This is an ingenious way of getting money through the trash. So, I want to congratulate Nyanya women and youths and also call on them to ensure that they use this scheme judiciously by picking up some litters that can be exchanged for wealth.”
Speaking on the grant awarded, the Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability Manager, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Nwamaka Onyemelukwe, remarked “Plastic pollution is a problem that our company is committed to solving. Our vision for a World Without Waste focuses on recycling and behavioural-change projects. We believe projects such as the Cash 4 Trash initiative by W.A.S.T.E Africa are an effective means of working together to create shared value and deliver real change”.
