From Waste to Wealth: LAWMA Champions Innovation in Environmental Sustainability

At a quiet corner of LAWMA’s Ijora-Olopa headquarters, a gathering of sharp minds from across the globe sat down—not for a policy briefing or a press conference—but for lunch. Yet this wasn’t just any lunch. It was a learning table, a space where science met service, and where the future of waste management in Lagos was up for fresh debate.

EpeInsights reports that the event was themed “Catalyzing Innovation through Collaboration: Unleashing the Power of the Triple Helix of Government, Industry and Academia”.

The Lagos Waste Management Authority’s (LAWMA) Lunch and Learn Series is not your typical official event. Instead, it’s a deliberate, informal platform created to spark dialogue, encourage collaboration, and reimagine waste as opportunity.

“We are not just a logistics outfit, LAWMA is a scientific organization. Waste management, especially in a city like Lagos, requires more than trucks and bins. It demands research, innovation, and continuous learning.” said Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, LAWMA’s Managing Director/CEO, in his welcome address. “

That ethos is what brought Prof. Mats Eklund, a globally respected sustainability expert and scientific leader at Sweden’s Biogas Research Centre, to Lagos. His keynote presentation painted a compelling picture of biogas technology—not as a future concept, but as a proven solution already helping cities across Europe combat air pollution, water contamination, and climate change.

With calm authority, Prof. Eklund walked the audience through case studies and research breakthroughs, challenging Nigeria’s waste sector to embrace innovation and see refuse as raw material for energy, agriculture, and economic empowerment.

“People need to see waste differently,” he emphasized. “Not as dirt or danger—but as opportunity. And with time, that shift in perception can unlock real transformation.”

Among those listening intently were key players in Lagos’ environmental landscape—government officials, lawmakers, academics, and private sector partners.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Mr. Tajudeen Omobolaji Gaji, hailed the session as a turning point, reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to bridging the gap between policy and innovation through cross-sector partnerships.

On his part, LAWMA’s Executive Director of Finance, Kunle Adebiyi, echoed the sentiment, pointing out that “technology is the future of waste management. If we want to stay competitive, we must invest in smart systems like biogas and build capacity in our workforce.”

For many in the room, the Q&A session that followed was where the real magic happened. The questions were thoughtful, the answers provocative. And through it all, the spirit of collaboration stood out—government, industry, and academia engaging in open dialogue.

The event also saw the presence of Engineer Adebola Sabi, Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Environment Parastatal; Mr. Adedoyin Lasisi, Director of Environment; and private sector leaders like Akin Alabi, MD of Zoomlion Nigeria.

Beyond its intellectual weight, the Lunch and Learn Series marks a symbolic shift in LAWMA’s direction—from reactive waste collection to proactive sustainability leadership. It’s about changing mindsets, building cross-sector bridges, and turning challenges into solutions.

If Lagos is to conquer its mounting waste problem, it will take more than policy—it will require vision. And if this gathering is any indication, that vision is starting to take shape, one conversation—and one lunch—at a time.