From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
The Planeteer Alliance, a climate change campaign group, has urged Nigerians, particularly the youth, to explore ways to meet human needs while minimizing their impact on planetary systems and non-human life.
Mr. Solomon Ekundayo, the Chief Host of the Kaduna Circular Solutions Summit held today in Zaria, emphasized the urgent need to adopt a circular economy as a vital strategy for building resilience against climate change.
Discussing the summit’s theme, “Addressing Plastic Solutions and Textile Waste through Creativity and Sustainability,” Ekundayo noted that today’s choices will shape the future that the next generation inherits. He asserted that ordinary citizens must become advocates for solutions that benefit both people and the planet.
A circular economy focuses on intelligent ways to reduce waste, energy demand, and consumption. Instead of discarding used items and purchasing new ones, this model promotes ensuring that useful goods find new owners.
Ekundayo highlighted the prevalence of plastic bottles and unused textile materials littering the environment and pointed out that these materials can be utilized within the circular economy. He explained that his organization, with support from the Captain Planet Foundation, is working to empower youth by encouraging them to think creatively and repurpose waste textiles and plastics into products that can generate income while combating climate change.
The guest speaker at the summit, Kabir Olaosebikan, Founder and CEO of Craft Planet, described the summit as a dynamic platform for genuinely understanding circular solutions. Olaosebikan stressed that recycling, reuse, and reduction of plastic waste are core tenets of these solutions.
He underscored the importance of minimizing environmental hazards to protect life on land and in water. “Circular solutions involve creating innovative methods for reducing plastic waste, such as bottles and fabric from the environment, as well as recycling and upcycling environmental waste,” he stated.
In Nigeria, Olaosebikan believes it is crucial to instill proper waste management habits from an early age. He shared that he began teaching students how to recycle and upcycle plastics, fabrics, used cans, and glass bottles into art and mural decorations years ago. This effort eventually led to the founding of Craft Planet, where various types of plastic waste are converted into building materials.
“We have developed a model where we exchange plastic waste for cash, cooking gas, and educational materials for students. This initiative benefits community members and school children while fostering healthy waste management habits from a young age. It also creates job opportunities, reduces waste in communities, sanitizes the environment, and generates revenue for sustainability,” he explained.
“We need to explore the potential for regenerating and recycling waste into high-value products.”
Similarly, Dr. Yusuf Owoseni from the Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, remarked that the gathering aims to provide circular solutions to environmental challenges for sustainable development. He emphasized the need for events like this to be held more frequently, as their impact can be significant.
“We’re focusing on critical issues like plastic pollution and textile waste. Unfortunately, in Nigeria, less than 1% of generated textile waste is upcycled. What we see instead is downcycling, which diminishes material value by turning textiles into rags or hole-blockers instead of repurposing them into higher-value products.”
He acknowledged that gatherings like this help teach participants how to extend the life of materials and keep them out of the waste stream, promoting sustainability.
Dr. Owoseni expressed concern that Nigeria generates about 2.5 million tons of plastic waste annually, with less than 9% being recycled. This means that over 91% remains unmanaged, contributing to environmental pollution. Through events like this summit and its exhibitions, participants are learning how to transform waste into valuable, reusable products.
“One presenter even created a plastic museum by crafting beautiful, functional items from waste.”
Dr. Owoseni outlined five key steps to transform waste management and promote sustainable practices, including production for durability, massive infrastructure investment, consumer education, extended producer responsibility (EPR), and empowering informal waste sector workers.
He stated, “A circular economy provides a framework for recycling plastic, paper, and other waste. Plastic is everywhere, and we must begin recycling not only plastic but also other materials.”
