The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has stated that it provides livelihoods for more than 100,000 young people across its service chain, positioning it as one of the largest youth employers in Lagos State.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, disclosed this during a stakeholder engagement at the authority’s Ijora-Olopa headquarters.
Dr. Gbadegesin also announced a strategic partnership with EKO 57 Support Group, a youth-led organisation, aimed at mobilising young residents to promote cleaner communities and improved waste disposal practices at the grassroots level.
Speaking on Monday while hosting the group’s leaders, Mr. Adams Kehinde and Mrs. Remilekun Oshodi, Gbadegesin said the collaboration would strengthen advocacy and sensitisation efforts across the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas in Lagos State.
“LAWMA is one of the largest employment drivers in the state, with over 100,000 youths directly and indirectly engaged across its operational value chain. Their energy and creativity remain vital to improving service delivery,” he said.
He emphasised that young people would play a pivotal role in expanding environmental awareness and driving behavioural change within communities, reinforcing the authority’s commitment to sustainable urban sanitation.
According to Gbadegesin, LAWMA works continuously to maintain a clean city and remains committed to mobilising broad-based support from all stakeholders. He noted that the agency already collaborates with community leaders, Community Development Associations (CDAs), and Community Development Committees (CDCs) to enhance grassroots engagement, address service challenges, and promote compliance with waste management regulations.
He added that the partnership with EKO 57 Support Group would further scale up community sensitisation and deepen environmental consciousness, describing the organisation as a formidable grassroots movement.
In their response, Mr. Kehinde and Mrs. Oshodi commended LAWMA’s outreach efforts, stressing that achieving a cleaner and more sustainable Lagos requires collective responsibility and active youth participation.
