Dare Babalola
The Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), in collaboration with European Union-backed partners, has intensified efforts to address the growing challenge of construction and demolition waste in Lagos State.
The initiative is being driven through a capacity-building programme under the Green Waste Remediation and Recycling (GROW) Vocational Training Workshop.
The development was contained in a statement signed by the Authority’s Director of Public Affairs, Mukaila Sanusi, on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
The workshop, held at the LCCI Conference and Exhibition Centre, Ikeja, brought together policymakers, industry stakeholders, academia, and development partners to explore sustainable solutions to construction waste management amid rapid urbanisation.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, described the initiative as a strategic intervention aimed at bridging technical skill gaps and repositioning construction waste management in line with global best practices.
He explained that the GROW project was designed to support a green transformation of the construction sector by promoting sustainable waste practices, strengthening technical capacity, and enhancing collaboration among government, training institutions, and industry stakeholders.
Dr. Gbadegesin, who was represented by the Authority’s Executive Director, Finance, Mr. Kunle Adebiyi, said the project is co-funded by the European Union under the ERASMUS+ programme, with Nigeria and Mozambique identified as key participating countries due to rising construction waste challenges linked to urban growth.
He added that LAWMA was strengthening the management of Construction, Demolition and Disaster Waste (CDDW) to ensure efficient handling from generation to final disposal, while also unlocking opportunities for recycling and resource recovery.
According to him, the initiative would support skills development, create employment opportunities, and accelerate the transition from a linear waste system to a circular economy model.
In her remarks, the Project Coordinator, Isabel Goncalves, described the workshop as timely, noting that the GROW project was designed to deliver practical, skills-based solutions to the increasing volume of construction waste.
She added that the initiative would strengthen workforce capacity, improve waste management outcomes across participating countries, and deepen collaboration among key stakeholders.
The workshop also featured technical sessions and breakout discussions on skills gap assessment and workforce development, where participants proposed actionable strategies to enhance recycling, reuse, and efficiency in construction waste management.
Stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to stronger partnerships, improved policy implementation, and the advancement of sustainable construction waste practices in Lagos and beyond.
