Gathered at the Arthur Mbanefo Digital Research Centre, UNILAG, on Friday, November 10, 2023, Waste-to-Wealth practitioners from across the country brainstormed on the Tangible Value of Waste.
The blended event, which is part of the ongoing ‘Pneuma-city’ project, afforded participants the opportunity to explore the multifaceted impact of used tyres on road ecologies, while examining the urban economies of tyre repair and repurposing.
Focusing on Lagos, the fastest growing city in Sub-Saharan Africa, the ‘Pneuma-city’ project ultimately aims to promote social and technical solutions to create more sustainable urban environments that in turn improve the well-being of workers and residents.
The Principal Investigator of the project, Dr. David Garbin from the University of Kent, United Kingdom, made a virtual introduction of the research work, giving an overview of its scope and dimensions.
“The project bridges formal and informal infrastructures by conceptually tracing the role of tyres as ‘frictional’ within urban contexts where automobile transport is hegemonic, with the ambition to put End-of-Life Tyre (ELT) challenges and opportunities at the heart of a vision for a sustainable future. ‘Pneuma-city’ more specifically addresses: the gendered informal cultures, livelihoods and technologies of tyre-related work; the complex place of waste tyres in street/road ecologies; the circular economies of repurposing”, he said.
Following that presentation was a documentary done by award-winning, Lagos-based artist and photographer, Andrew Esiebo. The documentary gave a compelling visual dimension to the deliberations on the role of tyres and their impacts on urban life in Lagos.
In three separate sessions, discussants at the workshop interrogated subjects such as: Making Art, Recycling, and Public Engagement.
Speaking to the meaning and usefulness of Waste Art, the Creative Director of Waste Musuem, Jumoke Olowookere, who made a virtual appearance, defined Waste Art as “finding creative uses for waste”. She affirmed that the artist could play a stronger role in advocating for sustainable tyre waste management by “being ready to be a teacher who shows by the work that he does, that waste is not waste until it is wasted”.
Dr. John Adenle of the Department of Creative Arts, University of Lagos, also emphasised the role of the artist as someone who is best positioned to demonstrate the tangible value of waste.
“The artist upcycles waste and ensures that what he creates from waste never returns to the waste stream. With more government and private capital support, the artist can do more creatively to depopulate the waste landscape”, he said.
Other discussants at the workshop were: Mr. Taiwo Adewole of Waste Exchange; Mr. Deji Akinpelu of Rethinking Cities; Ms. Omoh Alokwe of Street Wise; Mr. Busayo Oni, and Ms. Maria Valle.
Prof. Akeem Akinwale of the Department of Employment Relations and Human Resources Management, University of Lagos, moderated proceedings at the workshop.
