- Embraces circular economy transition
- Joins Lagos, Oyo, Anambra, Osun
- To generate 2m jobs nationwide by 2030
Cross River is set to convert its 79,000 tonnes of wastes generated annually in the state into wealth, in a bid to transition to a circular economy framework, a massive, largely untapped economic opportunity for Nigeria and Africa, estimated to be worth $546 billion annually.
In Nigeria, only about five states, Lagos, Oyo, Anambra, Cross River, and Osun are currently undertaking the circular economy push, which has the potential to generate two million jobs by 2030.
The Cross River government says the move will convert some 79,000 tonnes of waste generated in the state annually to wealth, in a determined effort to have a thriving forest, cleaner environment and the skills necessary to thrive in a changing global economy. The initiative is in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
A circular economy is a systemic approach to production and consumption that minimizes waste and keeps resources in use for as long as possible. It shifts from the traditional “take-make-waste” linear model to a closed-loop system where waste is eliminated, materials are reused, repaired, and recycled, and natural systems are regenerated.
A report by Raw Materials 360 says, by shifting from its linear ‘take-make-waste’ model to regenerative systems, Nigeria could turn its 32 million tonnes of annual waste into substantial economic value, with the recycling sector potentially growing into a $100 billion industry by 2030.
Already the state government with support from UNICEF, is intensifying its push towards a sustainable “waste-to-wealth” economy by training youths on opportunities in recycling and green entrepreneurship aimed at providing hands-on learning experiences for young participants in the state.
The theme of the training is “transforming waste to wealth and transitioning to a circular economy,” organised by the state’s ministry of environment with support from UNICEF, with stakeholders like environmental experts, Recyclers Association of Nigeria (RAN), participating.
Juliet Chiluwe, chief of field office, UNICEF Enugu, said resolve, partnerships, youth engagement, and policy implementation are critical to transforming waste into wealth in the state. She assured the UN agency is supporting the Cross River ministry of environment on the initiative which places young people at the heart of climate action.
“By investing in green entrepreneurship, forest monitoring and sustainable plastic management, we are ensuring that the children and youth of Cross River State inherit thriving forests, a cleaner environment and the skills necessary to thrive in a changing global economy,” Chiluwe said.
She said that the forest monitoring training in collaboration with the state ministry of environment and the state forest commission (CRSFC) utilised data-driven approaches to track forest health, identify illegal activities in real-time and implement reforestation and replenishment strategies to restore forest ecosystems, bridging the gap between government enforcement and community-led advocacy which reduces pressure from deforestation, illegal logging and climate-induced degradation.
With the collaboration of the state ministry of environment and experts from RAN, Chiluwe further stated that “the technical depth of the programme was strengthened, ensuring that participants have access to best practices in plastic waste value chains, organic waste composting, marine litter reduction strategies and coastal protection measures.
“We are positive the participants will develop green entrepreneurship skills that sets them apart in the current job market. We have ensured there are interactive sessions and networking opportunities aimed at building a robust ecosystem for green innovation in Cross River State”.
The state’s commissioner for environment, Moses Osogi described the waste-to-wealth training as a turning point in the state’s environmental and economic journey, noting that the effort was aimed at igniting a revolution of green entrepreneurship among youths, which the Governor Bassey Otu promotes in his “people first” agenda.
Environment experts believe Cross River must shift from seeing waste as a burden to recognising it as a reservoir of untapped economic value in the face of climate realities. They lauded the state’s embrace of a circular economy model that promotes reuse, recycling, and reintegration of waste into production systems, with ongoing innovations under the UNICEF project, which include the conversion of plastic waste into interlocking tiles and construction materials.
The trained young recyclers are encouraged to explore opportunities in recycling, upcycling, and renewable energy, with the state’s 2026 budget (of N780.6 billion) supporting such innovations. They should see waste as a business opportunity and become “ecopreneurs” capable of building a cleaner and sustainable state.
Victor Okunola, the vice president of RAN, said the training was designed to help youths unlock the economic potential in waste. He disclosed that Cross River generates about 79,000 tonnes of waste annually, describing it as a major opportunity for job creation and enterprise growth. “Stronger policies, tax incentives, and investment in recycling infrastructure are needed to support the sector’s expansion”.
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