Experts have called for children’s involvement in effective waste management. This call was made at the opening ceremony of Digitest 2023 – an annual ICT creative camp and competition for young techies in Abuja.

The training has as theme, ‘Digital solutions to plastic waste management’, and involved children between the ages of 8 and 18 years beaming with enthusiasm as they set to learn, compete and socialize.

It was expected that the children will be divided into groups and these groups will come up with the best idea for managing plastic waste. The team that wins gets the grand prize of N1 million.

Speaking at the event, the Keynote speaker, Dr. Olufunto Borofice, submitted that children are the future and their involvement is crucial.

In her words: “The children should be in the forefront. I feel it is too late for us adults. Older people are more rigid to listening to instructions but the young ones, we are hoping that as we are having this conversation on effective waste management with them now, it sticks to their DNA.

“It becomes part of them as they grow into adults. The culture of proper waste disposal will be in them for long. I am super excited about the camp because the use of digital solutions will enable them to do more. Apps can be built that enable people from different locations to send details of their waste, so it can be picked up wherever they are. These children are capable of that because they are more tech-savvy than us the older generation.”

Addressing The Guardian, the chairman of the occasion, Dr. Akin Fapohunda, emphasized the significance of the camp when he said: “This year is about waste management, especially plastic waste.

“The children are going to be involved in the mechanism, logistics and processes of managing waste and producing products that generate value and create business. Digital peers international got a grant to help stimulate and motivate these children. We are happy this is happening now when the country is down in direction. We are generating waste every minute, this is timely.”

Also, one of the participants, Chidimma Juan, expressed her excitement and expectations. She said: “I love Digitest; this is my first time coming here. I am so excited. From this opening ceremony, I have learnt the importance of recycling waste. I intend to learn how to do it so I can teach my fellow students and also make money from it. I expect to learn more.”