In the spirit of the 2025 World Recycling Day, the four-man research team of the African Engineering and Technology Network (AFRETEC) Inclusive Digital Transformation Seed-Grant Project took its ongoing research to the Olusosun Landfill at Ojota, Lagos.
The visit featured a stakeholders’ engagement on the team’s ongoing project titled “Application of AI Techniques for Extracting Carbon from Landfill Waste for Renewable Energy”.
Beyond the stakeholders’ engagement forum, workers at the Olusosun Landfill were also hosted to free medical outreach courtesy of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Green Hub and Human Concern Foundation International.
In his remarks to flag off the ceremony, the General Manager/Chief Executive Officer, Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and host of the event, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin who was represented by the Head, Olusosun Landfill TLS, LAWMA, Mr. Olumide Mumuni, appreciated the AFRETEC Team for the commitment to managing carbon emission.
While reiterating LAWMA’s obligation towards ensuring effective management of landfill gas and carbon emission at the Olusosun Landfill, Mr. Mumuni highlighted ongoing efforts to drive private sector involvement in ensuring a more efficient conversion of wastes to energy as well as green energy generation.
Members of the AFRETEC Seed-Grant Project took turns to make presentations on various elements of the project titled.
The Principal Investigator, Dr. Abdulganiy Adelopo (Principal Quality Control Officer, Works & Physical Planning, UNILAG) spoke on “Digital Awareness Among Landfill Workers: Challenges and Opportunities” as well as “Digital Intervention for Landfill Management: Data & Economic Gains”.
Dr. Babatunde Sawyerr of the Department of Computer Science, UNILAG and Artificial Intelligence Lead spoke on “Pictures and Carbon Data Management – AI Intervention Opportunities”.
Professor Siphila Wanjiku Mumenya (Dean, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nairobi) also spoke on Nairobi Waste Management Experience.
Recommendations/advocacies from speakers at the stakeholders engagement included: stronger town and gown collaboration with a view to making researches more contemporaneous while deriving solutions which would make waste conversion more effective, increased investments in research and collaborative ventures among stakeholders as well as capacity building for landfill workers (especially waste pickers and scavengers) so as to bridge the gap between the academia and the core operational hands in waste management.
The Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria led by the National President, Mr. Olugbenga Adebola also presented copies of one of the publications by one of the Association’s past Presidents, Elder Adegboyega Adepitan to UNILAG, Carnegie Mellon University, Rwanda and University of Nairobi, Kenya; partners in the AFRETEC Inclusive Digital Transformation Seed-Grant Project.
Celebrated March 18 annually, the World Recycling Day was launched in 2018 by the Global Recycling Foundation as an international initiative to promote the importance of recycling and sustainable practices.
The theme for this year is #RecyclingHeroes, being a tribute to the individuals, organizations, and communities making extraordinary efforts to promote recycling.
For more on the African Engineering and Technology Network (AFRETEC) Inclusive Digital Transformation Seed-Grant Project, click: https://unilag.edu.ng/afretec-delegation-at-unilag-shares-research-progress-interacts-with-stakeholders/
Report: Gbenga Gbelee
Photography: Michael Joshua
