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By correspondent in Lagos
The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) says it has trained 150 residents to be self employed and create wealth, through a seven-day training on water hyacinth recycling initiative.
The General Manager of Authority, Mr Damilola Emmanuel, made the disclosure during the 4th Edition of the Annual Water Hyacinth Recycling Initiative organised by LASWA in conjunction with Social enterprise Mitimeth, held in Lagos on Monday.
Emmanuel explained that the state government had also empowered 150 residents of Falomo and Badore on skills acquisition through water hyacinth recycling.
“The interested participants have been trained and motivated by the Lagos State in the aims of creating waste to wealth.
“We will be happy to see all of you turning waste into wealth simultaneously at Badore and Falomo.
“The volume of water hyacinth cannot be removed totally but can be converted into wealth with exposure and training.
“We have trained a total of 450 residents on water hyacinth recycling since the commencement in 2016.
“What Govt. is doing is to create enabling environment for business to flourish and encourage people to be self employed,” he said.
The Baale of Badore, Chief Waliu Adeniran, represented by Mr Wahab Mojeed, commended the efforts of the state government for creating enabling environmental and empowered their Indigenes to make money.
The Assistant Director, Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority, Mrs Toyin Sadiku, said water hyacinth could be used for organic for animals and fertiliser, adding that the achievement was to move the state forward.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mitimeth, a Lagos-Based Social Enterprise, Mrs Achenyo Idachaba-Obaro, commended the Lagos State for teaching people to learn various ways of making money through water hyacinth.
She said: “We have been able to train 150 participants on how to make different household souvenirs ropes and other things with water hyacinth between Dec. 7, to Dec 13.
“Through the water hyacinth which is locally called” Ewe-gbeborun” LASWA have trained residents and Indigenes of Epe, Badagry, Falomo and Ikorodu and now two training takes place in Falomo and Badore simultaneously.”
The Chief Executive Officer, PIB Gbobal, Mr Peter Bassey, said converting water hyacinth into organic kills offensive odours at the poultry and also converted the hyacinth into fertiliser.
One of the participants, Miss Yetunde Adeleke, said before now, that she was not aware of the water hyacinth saying that with the training and the experience she acquired, she would be able to train other people and create wealth in the state.
A 50-year-old mother, Mrs Tawa Taofik, who participated with two of her children said they had been able to make different choices of souvenirs to sell during festive season and would also continue after the season.
