The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), in collaboration with European Union-backed partners, has intensified efforts to tackle construction and demolition waste through the Green Waste Remediation and Recycling (GROW) vocational training workshop.

The workshop, held at the LCCI Conference and Exhibition Centre in Ikeja, brought together policymakers, industry stakeholders, academics, and development partners to address the growing challenge of construction waste in a rapidly urbanising environment.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, described the initiative as a strategic intervention to bridge technical skill gaps and reposition construction waste management in line with global best practices.

Represented by the Authority’s Executive Director of Finance, Mr Kunle Adebiyi, he said the GROW project supports the green transformation of the construction sector by promoting sustainable waste practices, strengthening technical capacity, and fostering collaboration among government, training institutions, and industry.

He added that the project, co-funded by the European Union under the ERASMUS+ programme, focuses on Nigeria and Mozambique as key economies facing increasing construction waste challenges. LAWMA, he noted, is strengthening the management of Construction, Demolition and Disaster Waste (CDDW) to ensure efficient handling from generation to disposal, while unlocking opportunities for recycling and resource recovery.

Gbadegesin also said the initiative would support skills development, create jobs, and accelerate the transition to a circular waste management system.

In her remarks, the Project Coordinator, Isabel Goncalves, described the workshop as timely, noting that the GROW project aims to deliver practical, skills-based solutions to the rising volume of construction waste. She added that it would strengthen workforce capacity, improve waste management outcomes, and promote collaboration among stakeholders.

Representatives from industry groups, waste management associations, academia, and private sector partners participated in the discussions.

The workshop featured technical sessions and breakout discussions on skills gap assessment and workforce development, with participants proposing strategies to improve recycling, reuse, and efficiency in construction waste management.

Stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening partnerships, enhancing policy implementation, and advancing sustainable construction waste practices in Lagos and beyond.