Backs initiative to boost livelihoods of girls with disabilities
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 train youths on opportunities in recycling and green entrepreneurship.

The two-day 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 United Nations Children’s 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 recognising it as a reservoir of untapped economic value in the face of climate realities.

Meanwhile, UNICEF has underscored the importance of the ongoing implementation of the Girls Education Skills Partnership (GESP) by a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Sightsavers, describing the initiative as a practical and impactful intervention aimed at equipping girls and young women with disabilities with the skills needed to transition into sustainable livelihoods.

This was during a courtesy visit by prospective donors, who applauded the organisations for their commitment to empowering girls and adolescents living with disabilities.

The programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and implemented by Sightsavers alongside other partners under the supervision and coordination of UNICEF, targeted adolescent girls and young women with disabilities through mentoring, coaching, entrepreneurship training, digital literacy, and employability support.

During the visit, Chief of UNICEF’s Lagos Office, which covers South-West Nigeria and Lead of the Private Sector Partnerships Unit for Nigeria and Generation Unlimited Nigeria, Céline Lafourrière, commended the ongoing implementation by Sightsavers, stressing that leaving no one behind remains a key priority for UNICEF.

According to her, girls living with disabilities face unique barriers, particularly when visual impairment is compounded by low levels of literacy and numeracy.

She said: “Girls living with disabilities are particularly important. Now, when people are living with a sight impairment, it becomes extremely difficult to get to them when they have low levels of literacy and numeracy.”