WAPAN, UNICEF Launch #GreenRisingProject

Waste Pickers Association Of Nigeria, in partnership with UNICEF, has announced the launch of the #GreenRisingProject in commemoration of World Cleanup Day 2024.

According to WAPAN, the #GreenRisingProject mobilised more than 1,000 youths across Lagos, Abuja, and Kano for a week-long campaign of extensive waste collection, recovery, and recycling.

In a statement, WAPAN said, “This isn’t just about cleaning up. It’s about empowering the youth and transforming the waste management sector. The project integrates these young individuals into the formal waste economy, offering them training and opportunities to build sustainable livelihoods.

“We’re also addressing critical issues like child labour in waste picking, providing education and protection for the affected children. Our innovative use of technology to track waste collection and secure more benefits for beneficiaries will unveil new and original technologies that Nigeria’s waste management has never experienced. It’s a trailblazer. This is the future of waste management in Nigeria, and WAPAN is leading the charge.

“We’re driving real change, and we invite everyone to join us as we make the stamp of true impact across the country. It’s not just a cleanup; it’s a movement. Stay tuned as WAPAN continues to elevate waste pickers and transform Nigeria’s environmental landscape.”

According to the association, the project has demonstrated that in Nigeria, WAPAN has resilient and talented waste pickers capable of taking on the global challenge of plastic waste management—especially in the critical areas of land and marine waste.