Course description

INTRODUCTION

Rapid urbanization in Nigeria has led to an exponential increase in the generation of solid waste, creating a pressing challenge for city authorities, the environment, and public health. Traditional waste disposal methods—such as open dumping and poorly managed landfills—are not only unsustainable but also contribute to pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and loss of valuable materials.

This conference seeks to explore innovative approaches to urban waste management through the lens of the circular economy—a regenerative model that emphasizes resource efficiency, reuse, recycling, and waste-to-value solutions. By transitioning from linear consumption patterns to circular practices, Nigerian cities can unlock economic opportunities, create green jobs, and reduce environmental degradation.

Bringing together government officials, urban planners, environmentalists, private waste operators, and development partners, the conference will showcase strategies, technologies, and policy frameworks needed to drive effective waste management and promote a thriving circular economy.

By the end of this conference, participants will be able to:

• understand the current state and challenges of urban waste management in Nigeria;
• identify principles and benefits of the circular economy in urban contexts;
• explore waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and resource recovery techniques;
• analyze policy and regulatory frameworks that support sustainable waste management;
• learn about innovative waste-to-energy and waste-to-product solutions;
• design and implement inclusive and community-based waste programs;
• discover financing and partnership models for circular economy initiatives; and
• promote behavioral change and public awareness on sustainable waste practices.

CONFERENCE MODULES

Module 1: Understanding Urban Waste Dynamics in Nigeria

• Waste generation trends and urbanization challenges
• Types of waste: municipal, industrial, e-waste, medical, and agricultural
• Environmental, health, and social impacts of poor waste management

Module 2: Principles and Practice of the Circular Economy

• Moving from linear to circular models: global and local perspectives
• Circular design, product lifecycle management, and zero-waste systems
• Role of innovation, entrepreneurship, and green technology

Module 3: Effective Urban Waste Management Strategies

• Waste segregation at source and collection optimization
• Recycling infrastructure, material recovery facilities, and composting
• Waste-to-energy projects and biogas technologies

Module 4: Legal, Policy, and Institutional Frameworks

• National and sub-national waste management laws and policies
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and polluter-pays principles
• Institutional roles and inter-agency coordination mechanisms

Module 5: Financing and Public-Private Partnerships

• Investment opportunities in waste and circular economy sectors
• Role of donor agencies, green funds, and social impact investors
• Case studies of successful PPPs in waste management

Module 6: Community Engagement and Capacity Building

• Inclusive approaches: women, youth, and informal waste workers
• Public awareness campaigns and environmental education
• Building technical and managerial capacity of local waste managers

Module 7: Smart and Sustainable Cities

• Integrating waste management into urban planning
• Smart waste technologies: IoT, sensors, and data analytics
• Climate resilience and urban sustainability through circular practices

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:

• Officials from Federal, State, and Local Government environmental agencies
• Urban and regional planners
• Waste management authorities and sanitation officers
• Private sector waste operators and recyclers
• NGOs and community-based organizations in sanitation and sustainability
• Environmental and sustainability consultants
• Manufacturers and industrial players subject to EPR policies
• Researchers and academics in urban studies, environmental science, and circular economy
• Donor agencies and international development partners
• Innovators and entrepreneurs in the green and recycling industries
• Youth-led environmental advocacy groups and climate activists
• Media professionals working on environmental issues

What will i learn?

• • understand the current state and challenges of urban waste management in Nigeria;
• • identify principles and benefits of the circular economy in urban contexts;
• • explore waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and resource recovery techniques;
• • learn about innovative waste-to-energy and waste-to-product solutions;
• • design and implement inclusive and community-based waste programs;

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