The Lagos State Government has launched the first-ever circular economy hotspot in Africa with the aim of building an economic system that is driven by innovativeness and sustainable consumption model to save the future generations of resource scarcity.
The two-day event with the theme: “Towards a Circular and Resourceful Economy: The Future Lagos”, was organized by the Lagos State Government and is taking place at Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island.
The event was geared towards pioneering the transformation of the current production order towards regeneration and sustainability.
At the unveiling of the unique initiative in collaboration with Circular Economy Innovation Partnership (CEIP) and African Circular Economy Network,
Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu stated that the idea was aimed at engendering a new pattern of production and consumption that encompasses producing, repairing and recycling of used materials, noting that the concept of circular economy was based on regeneration of products for continuing production in a sustainable and environmentally-friendly manner.
Sanwo-Ol, who disclosed that the event came at a time the nation was adopting a new process to free up its limited resources and optimally channel it towards addressing the different socio-economic needs of the citizens, revealed that core principle of circular economy encourages citizen’s engagements and partnerships to sustain a resilient socio-economic development for Lagos State.
” The Lagos Circular Economy Hotspot 2023 is of utmost importance, not only for Lagos and Nigeria, but for the entire sub-Saharan Africa. Developing countries like ours have contributed the least to global warming, but are suffering the worst impacts of climate change.
” We are also at a disadvantage when it comes to having access to the resources and strategies needed to fight climate change or adapt to its impact”, he acknowledged.
While reiterating his administration’s commitment to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth through the encouragement of sustainable consumption and production patterns, the Governor disclosed that the “THEMES-PLUS Agenda”, the plus (+) that is developed to focus, on Social Inclusion, Gender Equality and Youth development will support the achievement of the Circular Economy Initiative.
Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the State’s journey to circular economy began three years ago when Lagos brought stakeholders together on a roundtable to discuss options towards a resourceful and waste-free economy.
He said a technical working group on “Circular Lagos” was set up in 2021 to coordinate and facilitate the development of the initiative, while supporting and monitoring the project implementation.
The Governor emphasized that the economic and commercial activities that abound in the State, along with its major link to international businesses and the outside world, has made Lagos a beacon of hope and prosperity that attracts a constant influx of people which translates to a constant growth in population.
He stated that the attendant pressure on the limited resources therefore require a deliberate shift from materialization to de-materialisation that will improve the state’s profile of compliance with SDG Goals 8, 9 and 12 on promotion of “inclusive growth, building a resilient infrastructure.
Co-chairman of the Circular Economy Innovation Partnership, Mr. Bolaji Akinboro, said the concept of circular economy would allow the State to construct a new cycle of material use and save the future generations from scarcity.He said by the development, Lagos had set the pace for a new model of economy which would set new trends and standards in sustainability and lay the foundation for big businesses operating in Lagos to key into the new economic trend.
Consular General of the Kingdom of Netherlands, Mr. Michael Deelen, congratulated Lagos for being the first sub-national to embark on a circular economic project, noting that it was time for Nigeria to have a change of perspective and expectations.
Deelen, represented by Deputy Consular General, Ms. Leone Van der Stijl, observed that the climate change had been projected to become more severe and would hit a point where the planet’s ecosystem would no longer replenish the resources being used up.
The envoy said: “With 70 percent of Nigeria’s population under the age of 30, the possibility of climate change tainting their future is exponentially higher.
” This simply means there will be more people living with more scarcity in the future from the scarcity we are creating today.
“It makes sense to replace the current linear model of grab, use and dump to a circular model of feeding recycled materials back into the system.
The Netherlands is willing to provide the knowledge and capacity needed to build the circular economic model.”
At the event, Lagos State Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Netherlands Circular Hotspot on technical cooperation and knowledge exchange towards accelerating the implementation of policies that will promote circular economy.
The Event was attended by members of the State House of Assembly, the Consulates of Netherland, Germany and Finland, Members of the Diplomatic Community, World Bank Group, Business Leaders, Top Government Functionaries, Non-Government Organisations, Corporate Bodies and Sustainable Development Advocates.
