Lagos, Nigeria, April 23, 2025.

Lagos, long recognized for pioneering initiatives such as community recycling and waste-to-wealth programs, continues to raise the bar in sustainable innovation through recent improvements and collaborations showcased in the OCCE scorecard.

At the EKO Waste Summit 2.0, organized by the Waste Management Society of Nigeria (WAMASON), the Special Adviser to the Governor on Climate Change and Circular Economy, Mrs. Titilayo Oshodi, delivered a keynote address that showcased Lagos’ remarkable progress and ambitious new direction in the circular economy.

In her speech, Mrs. Oshodi highlighted the milestones achieved under her leadership in the Office of Climate Change and Circular Economy (OCCE): 

• Over 400 community recycling hubs established; 
• More than 5,000 metric tons of waste diverted from landfills annually; 
• Pioneering waste-to-wealth programs in low-income areas.

However, she emphasized the urgent need to scale up efforts to meet Lagos’ growing population and environmental challenges. She outlined how the OCCE, under her leadership, is accelerating progress by delivering measurable impact through new transformative initiatives: 

• Eco-Circulate: Moving beyond basic recycling, EcoCirculate now partners with faith-based organizations to combine recycling with education sponsorships for underserved communities, promoting both environmental and social inclusion.
• Leave No One Behind: Expanding access to green jobs, the initiative has created over 10,000 new jobs by training marginalized groups in sustainable practices like upcycling, clean energy installation, and waste valorization.
• ECOnomy Business Network: Over 250 circular MSMEs have been supported with market access, training, and ESG-aligned finance, strengthening the green business ecosystem in Lagos.

Mrs. Oshodi also announced Lagos’ selection as the pilot city for Nigeria’s 80 Million Clean Cookstoves Initiative, which is expected to significantly lower carbon emissions while creating an entirely new green industry. This further positions Lagos as a leader in climate resilience and innovation.

The Summit, themed “Circular Economy Pathways: Innovation and Collaboration for Sustainable Waste Management and Climate Resilience in Lagos State,” brought together key stakeholders from government, private sector, development organizations, and the informal sector.

Mrs. Oshodi concluded with a call to action for deeper partnerships, noting, 

“Lagos has made commendable progress, but we are raising the bar even higher. Through innovation, inclusivity, and collaboration, we are transforming waste streams into wealth streams, building a greener, stronger, and more resilient Lagos for generations to come.”

With measurable achievements like 10,000 green jobs created, thousands of tons of waste repurposed, and hundreds of businesses empowered, Lagos is not just participating in the circular economy, it is leading it.