The Lagos State Government, through the Office of Climate Change and Circular Economy under the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget (MEPB), has deepened its commitment to grassroots climate action with the successful execution of the Eco-Circulate Ayobo Initiative.
EpeInsights reports that the initiative is a transformative programme focused on sustainable living, circular economy awareness, and community incentives.
Eco-Circulate is a flagship outreach initiative designed to activate climate responsibility at the community level, particularly among nano and micro-businesses.
It uses a unique blend of entertainment, education, and rewards to promote environmentally friendly behaviour and introduce waste-to-value practices that directly benefit participants.
Following earlier engagements in Badagry, Ajah and Trade Fair, the Ayobo edition marked a significant milestone, thanks to a strategic partnership with New Dawn Redeemed Church during its annual Women’s Programme.
The collaboration was made possible through Mrs. Olayinka Ojo, Permanent Secretary, MEPB, and an Assistant Pastor in the church’s province.
Recognising the synergy between the church’s community mission and the goals of Eco-Circulate, Mrs. Ojo advocated for the initiative to be embedded in the programme to empower both the congregation and the broader Ayobo community.
The event drew wide participation, with residents actively contributing recyclable materials.
The total collection included ; 207.94 kg of plastics, 326.15 kg of cartons, 871.02 kg of textiles, 119.04 kg of metals and cans, 32.68 kg of paper and 80.91 kg of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE).
In line with the Eco-Circulate reward model, participants were given household essentials, food items, cash, and gas vouchers in exchange for their recyclables, effectively demonstrating how climate-friendly actions can also help address daily socioeconomic needs.
A key feature of the initiative was a vibrant Junk Yard Sale, where community members exchanged or sold gently used clothes, kitchenware, footwear, and other household items at minimal or no cost.
The activity reinforced a culture of reuse over disposal, reducing waste while building social bonds within the community.
The Ayobo edition of Eco-Circulate seamlessly combined environmental education, economic empowerment, and community engagement, exemplifying Lagos State’s inclusive approach to climate action. It also highlighted the importance of strategic partnerships in driving sustainability efforts.
Mrs. Olayinka Ojo’s role in facilitating the church-government collaboration underscores how visionary leadership can serve as a bridge between policy and people.
As the Eco-Circulate programme scales to other communities across Lagos, the success in Ayobo offers a replicable model of how localised, incentive-based climate initiatives can turn waste into wealth and build grassroots champions of the circular economy.
