On Monday, the North East Development Commission (NEDC) provided briquette-making machines to youths in Borno State after they had undergone training on waste recycling, a way to tackle the consequences of climate change.
Presenting the briquette machines to beneficiaries, including scavengers and other youths, at the commission’s headquarters, Mohammed Alkali, MD/ CEO of the NEDC, emphasised the commission’s commitment to equipping young people with practical skills and resources that would enable self-sufficiency while driving economic development in the region.
He said the initiative’s beneficiaries recently completed comprehensive training in briquette production. He added that, with the provision of these machines, they now have the opportunity to apply their knowledge in real-world settings, potentially turning their skills into sustainable livelihoods.
The NEDC boss noted that briquette-making machines are designed to convert waste biomass into high-quality briquettes, providing a cleaner and more efficient alternative to traditional fossil fuels.
Alkali said that by promoting renewable energy sources, the initiative aligns with global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and combat environmental degradation.
He said that the project also holds significant economic potential beyond environmental benefits. The availability of locally produced briquettes could create new markets, reduce reliance on expensive and polluting fuels, and encourage entrepreneurship among trainees.
In her remarks, the training coordinator, Dr Zainab Challube, said the NEDC set up the initiative to address one of the challenges confronting Borno State: indiscriminate waste disposal.
She added that the initiative had been implemented to examine how to engage those in the scavenging business, how they could do it controlled, and how they could earn a decent and lucrative living.
She said the first set of trainees were the scavengers, while others comprised youths trained to train others, adding that 60 were trained in installing solar energy.
She said the beneficiaries would turn the waste disposed of in the State, including plastics that could harm aquatic life, into briquettes.
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