Lagos, July 21, 2025

The Lagos State Government has thrown its weight behind private-sector-led climate action as Mrs. Titilayo Oshodi, Special Adviser to the Governor on Climate Change and Circular Economy, publicly backed Nestle Nigeria’s Safety and Health Training for Waste Workers, describing it as “a timely and people-centered intervention that mirrors the core values of Lagos’ circular economy agenda.”

Speaking as Special Guest at the training event held at L’eola Hotel, Maryland, Mrs. Oshodi praised the initiative, which trains 100 waste workers across 50 recycling hubs on occupational safety, PPE usage, and fire prevention, as an impactful step toward building a safer and more inclusive recycling workforce in Lagos.

“Nestle’s decision to invest in the protection and empowerment of informal waste workers is more than corporate responsibility. It is a statement, a statement that lives matter, that climate action must be human-centered, and that no one should be left behind,” she said.

The Special Adviser emphasized that the programme strongly aligns with Lagos State’s flagship initiatives such as Eco-Circulate, Let Lagos Breathe, and Leave No One Behind, all of which are designed to bridge climate innovation with economic inclusion, particularly for vulnerable environmental workers.

By affirming Nestle’s action, Mrs. Oshodi not only applauded the company’s approach but also positioned it as a partner in the State’s broader environmental and social reform.

“At the Office of Climate Change and Circular Economy, we are clear on one thing: sustainability must be inclusive. And today, Nestle has shown us what that looks like in practice, a practical, on-the-ground commitment to the dignity, safety, and value of our waste workforce,” she noted.

The training, which drew participation from across the plastic recycling value chain, was structured around practical safety demonstrations, expert-led sessions, and open dialogue with workers reinforcing a people-first approach to environmental sustainability.

In her closing remarks, the Special Adviser called on more corporate actors to follow Nestle’s example by integrating climate goals with community impact:

“While many people walk past plastic bottles and wrappers without a second thought, you step in. You collect. You recover value from waste and protect our environment. You are not just workers, you are agents of transformation.

And to Nestle, I say thank you. By backing those who are often unseen, you have become a visible force for change. This is the kind of partnership Lagos welcomes one that matches vision with impact, and words with action. Together, we are building a Lagos where waste has value, where workers have dignity, and where no one is left behind.”