Cross River, UNICEF deepens ‘waste-to-wealth’ drive, empowers youths for circular economy transition

 In a significant step towards youth empowerment in the green sector, the Cross River State Government has intensified its push toward a sustainable “waste-to-wealth” economy, as stakeholders, development partners, and environmental experts trained youths on opportunities in recycling and green entrepreneurship.

Participants at the 2-day workshop

By Solomon Azu, Calabar

The two days capacity-building workshop, themed “Transforming Waste to Wealth & Transitioning to a Circular Economy,” attracted participation from government officials, the Recyclers Association of Nigeria (RAN), and the United Nations Children Fund UNICEF, funders of the initiative aimed at providing hands-on learning experiences for young participants from Cross River

Delivering the keynote address, the Commissioner for Environment, Moses Osogi, described the workshop as a turning point in the state’s environmental and economic journey.

He said the gathering was aimed at igniting a revolution of green entrepreneurship among youths, in line with the “People First” agenda of Governor Bassey Otu.

Osogi noted that the state must shift from seeing waste as a burden to recognizing it as a reservoir of untapped economic value in the face of climate realities.

He explained that Cross River is embracing a circular economy model that promotes reuse, recycling, and reintegration of waste into production systems.

The commissioner highlighted ongoing innovations under the UNICEF project, including the conversion of plastic waste into interlocking tiles and construction materials.

He commended UNICEF for supporting youth-driven environmental initiatives and advancing sustainable waste management solutions.

Osogi charged the participants, especially the youths to explore opportunities in recycling, upcycling, and renewable energy, noting that the 2026 budget supports such innovations.

He encouraged them to see waste as a business opportunity and become “ecopreneurs” capable of building a cleaner and more prosperous state.

 In a goodwill message, the Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Enugu, Mrs Juliet Chiluwe said UNICEF is proud to support the Cross River State Ministry of Environment on this initiative which places young people at the heart of climate action. "By investing in green entrepreneurship, forest monitoring and sustainable plastic management, we are ensuring that the children and youth of Cross River State inherit thriving forests, cleaner environment and the skills necessary to thrive in a changing global economy.

Chiluwe said the forest monitoring training in collaboration with the State Ministry of Environment and the State Forest Commission utilized data-driven approaches to track forest health, identify illegal activities in real-time and implement reforestation and replenishment strategies to restore forest ecosystems, bridging the gap between government enforcement and community-led advocacy which reduces pressure from deforestation, illegal logging and climate-induced degradation.

 Also, with the collaboration of the State Ministry of Environment and experts from the Recyclers Association of Nigeria, the technical depth of the programme was strengthened, ensuring that participants have access to best practices in plastic waste value chains, organic waste composting, marine litter reduction strategies and coastal protection measures.

She expressed hope that the participants will develop green entrepreneurship skills that sets them apart in the current job market. We have ensured there are interactive sessions and networking opportunities aimed at building a robust ecosystem for green innovation in Cross River State.

Earlier, one of the facilitators and Vice President of RAN, Victor Okunola, said the training was designed to help youths unlock the economic potential in waste.

He disclosed that Cross River generates about 79,000 tonnes of waste annually, describing it as a major opportunity for job creation and enterprise growth.

Okunola called for stronger policies, tax incentives, and investment in recycling infrastructure to support the sector’s expansion.

RAN executive member Ola Oluwaseyi highlighted the dangers of marine litter and stressed the need for effective policy enforcement and collaboration.

In a goodwill message, the Director General of the state Waste Management Agency, Patrick E. Egbede said the circular economy can drive job creation, innovation, and revenue generation for the state.

Participants agreed that sustained partnerships, youth engagement, and policy implementation are critical to transforming waste into wealth in Cross River State.