The International Women’s Society (IWS), a group of international women founded to work for the advancement of women of all races, and develop the common interests of women, is collaborating with the House of Oduduwa Foundation to host this year’s Queen Móremí Àjàsorò Empowerment and Mentorship programmme during the QMA 2017 Pageant auditions in Ile-Ife. The auditions are slated for October 30 to November 1.

The inaugural Queen Móremí Àjàsorò Empowerment and Mentorship programme with the Theme “Creating Successful Entrepreneurs in the Business of Empowerment” will feature successful Nigerian female entrepreneurs, who will share their experiences as role models for young women to emulate.

Discussions at the conference will center on the development and empowerment of the youth; how young women can create sustainable businesses, become job creators and support the development of other women entrepreneurs.

The QMA International Project is an initiative established to showcase the unrivalled heroism of Queen Móremí, whose exploits and willingness to lay her life for the survival of her people, represents an indelible gesture in altruism and a major part of Yoruba history and culture.
Some of the projects to mark this year’s event are; the Queen Móremí Àjàsorò cultural pageant, the QMA Empowerment and Mentorship Programme, the QMA Awards and the QMA ‘Móremí The Musical’, which debuts this year.

The collaboration with IWS is coming a few days after the announcement of popular Yoruba actor, Odunlade Adekola, as one of the distinguished celebrity judges for the QMA 2017 Pageant auditions, which will take place from Monday, 30th October to Wednesday, 1st November 2017, at the King’s Palace, Enuwa, Ile Ife, Osun State, with the grand finale holding at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos, on the 3rd December 2017.

The President, International Women’s Society, Nigeria, Nwakaego Boyo, declared that “The International Women’s society Nigeria is proud to partner with the Queen Moremi Ajasoro empowerment and mentorship campaign, which is part of this year’s cultural pageant”. She expressed her delight about the partnership. She also assured that her organization will keep working with partners who share similar ideals on the need to be good role models for young girls and women.

According to her, “We have for sixty years, achieved this in our structured and focused society which continues to impact the lives of many, and will continue to work with partners who share similar ideals, to be good role models for young girls and women, and to ensure they have all the opportunities needed to achieve their goals and realize their full potential.”

SA&B Mega Resources Limited, a fully integrated African marketing communications company with a global vision, has announced a team of global media experts. The company also launched its website, www.saandb.com.

The team is a convergence of professionals from competitive markets within and outside Africa. The various experts have several decades of experience and impeccable track records in their respective fields of Advertising, Public Relations, Marketing, Event Management, Journalism, Broadcasting and Documentary Production.

SA&B offers premium 360-degree communication and marketing solutions for clients which cut across innovative advertising, effective public relations, memorable events, bull’s-eye sponsorships, result-oriented promotions and inventive sports marketing. It also offers various products in different aspects such as PR Grooming, Corporate Coffee Table Books, Biographies and Ideas Generation.

Anchored by the Founding Partner, Olabode Opeseitan, the team consists of the Media Adviser from India, Abhishek Dube, who has worked on several big brands, and Advertising Consultant, Kobby Acquah-Hayford, the Director of Advertising, TBWA, Ghana. Also prominent in the team are the Documentary Production Consultant, Aderemi Ogunpitan who is also the CEO of continentally acclaimed IBST; the Marketing Consultant, Adenike Olufade, who is the immediate past Executive Director Marketing of NTA and now Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of DIGIMAGE Technologies & Warehousing Limited and Chief Executive Officer of DIGIMAGE Consult. Other prominent members of the team are the Editorial Consultants made up of renowned journalists and wordsmiths, Remi Oyeyemi (North America), Ayopo Apesin (UK) and Dr. Festus Adedayo (Nigeria), the Social Media Advisor, Joan Nwosu based in North America and the Broadcast Media Coordinator, Aanu Michael amongst others.

Abhishek Dube has well over 20 years’ experience in highly competitive markets of Telecommunications, Media, Technology and Automobiles across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and Latin America. He was a one-time Director of Marketing Communication in Globacom.
On his part, Kobby Acquah-Hayford has managed brands in Manufacturing, Aviation, Financial and Automobile sectors for well over 15 years. He has worked on global brands like PZ Cussons, Pepsi Cola, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, Canon, Microsoft, Standard Chartered Bank, Acer and Stanbic Bank.

Aderemi Ogunpitan’s three decades of experience in content and production has made him work on world-class brands such as MTN, Airtel, Globacom, Chevron, Nestle, Dangote, Coca-Cola, Ford Foundation, Reuters, Nielsen, Citi Bank and Flour Mills. He has also created and produced content for various television titles including Big Brother Nigeria, Dragons Den Nigeria, The Apprentice Africa, Peak Talent Show, Glo Soccer Academy and Doctors Quarters, a TV series for MNET.

Adenike Olufade is a seasoned and accomplished Marketing and Business Administration expert with over 36 years of experience. As the immediate past Executive Director, Marketing at NTA, she coordinated all marketing activities in 105 NTA stations nationwide.

Remi Oyeyemi is an award-winning journalist and behaviour expert who has been involved in writing for about 30 years for numerous media organisations in both Nigeria and the United States of America.

Ayopo Apesin is an author, writer and journalist with over 20 years’ experience in Publishing, Marketing and Public Relations in competitive markets like Nigeria and the United Kingdom. He has successfully organised worldwide publicity for notable events like the Yoruba Heritage Awards, Nigerian Carnival UK and the Omo Oodua/ Ife Day carnival.

Dr. Festus Adedayo is a seasoned journalist and columnist with about 20 years of experience cutting across Journalism, Research and Public Communication. He is known in the Nigerian public arena as a public commentator with an acerbic pen. He has served in various capacities including Deputy Editor and Editorial Page Editor, Nigerian Tribune, Special Adviser on Media to Enugu State Governor in 2003 and Special Adviser on Media to Oyo State Governor for four years from 2011 to 2015.

Joan Nwosu has more than ten years of experience in Information Technology, Marketing and Project Management for multimillion dollar brands in Telecoms, ICT and Automobile in markets across Nigeria, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Aanu Michael is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer at Be Happy Entertainment Limited; Aanu's work experience of more than ten years, spreads across Broadcasting, Marketing, Brand Management, Corporate Communications, Event Management, Hospitality and Publishing. She was the presenter of ‘Good Morning Africa’, Mnet’s official breakfast show airing daily on Africa Magic DSTV Channel 154 & 155 and has presented over 300 episodes of the Nigerian segment of the programme. She is currently the presenter of The 411 on VoxAfrica.

Speaking on the unique advantage SA&B brings to its varied clients, Olabode Opeseitan, the Founding Partner who is also the PR Advisor stated; “we are driven by our passion, our antecedents, our heritage and our diversity. It’s about our cumulative experience spanning over 30 years across channels, markets, cultures, and countries in Africa, Europe and North America. It’s also about the robust relationships we’ve maintained with top media personalities and other important stakeholders across the world. It is surely all about the trust our clients have had in us and the smartness of our ideas”.

Olabode who founded the multidimensional agency with other like minds in August, 2017, was appointed as PR Ambassador by the world's largest entrepreneurship network, Africa's Young Entrepreneurs (A.Y.E).

He has over 26 years of experience in key areas such as Strategy Development and Implementation, Media Relations, Reputation Management, Event Management, Sports Sponsorship and Promotions in competitive African markets; particularly in Nigeria, Ghana and Benin Republic. He was until the end of July, 2017 the Director of Public Relations, Event & Promotions at Globacom where he worked for almost 14 years. He also worked at African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc for eight years, rising to the post of Editor, Tribune on Saturday.
He is a Fellow of World Press Institute in Macalester College, Minnesota, USA, Poynter Institute, Florida, USA and the Reuters Foundation, UK.

Municipality Waste Management Contractors Limited (MWMCL), a consortium led by Visionscape Sanitation Solutions Limited, has been recognized for its socio-economic impact and the significant role it has played in driving advancements in product innovation, transparency and credibility in the financial markets.

The MWMCL was honored with the FMDQ Debt Capital Market (DCM) Awards which was organized by the FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange, an over the counter market focused on the strategic development of the Nigerian financial markets.

The organisers said the MWMCL was recognized for its trailblazing efforts in the successful issuance of Nigeria’s premier Green Notes. The green notes serve as a financing structure for the implementation of The Cleaner Lagos Initiative- a holistic reform of the entire waste management framework of Lagos State including the establishment of sustainable waste management systems with significant investments in infrastructure.
The award ceremony was held at the Eko Hotel & Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos. The Visionscape led consortium won awards in four categories; Innovation & Sustainability, Regulation & Compliance, Debts Products Listed & Quoted on FMDQ and, Listings & Quotations Stakeholder.

“We are honored to be recognized by the management & Board of The FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange. Visionscape and its partners aim to be at the forefront of this historical project in Lagos, Nigeria and are proud to be part of the team bringing it to fruition. We will continuously strive to be the industry’s benchmark for social impact investments,” said John Irvine, Visionscape Africa, CEO.

The 5-year term Series I green notes raised N50 billion naira, and was oversubscribed by investors, setting an outstanding benchmark for future investments in green infrastructure bonds in Africa. The popularity of the green bonds market has grown exponentially and the momentum has continued strong over the past few years. The involvement of debt capital markets to raise funds to unlock capital for green/environmental projects has become a priority globally as the switch to a greener economy presents significant business opportunities.

Shoprite Owner, Dr. Christoffel Wiese to attend Networking with Giants conference in Lagos on Nov 30


The controlling shareholder of Shoprite Holdings Limited, Dr. Christoffel Wiese will be speaking at a major international conference for entrepreneurs, “Networking with the Giants”, organised by the world’s largest entrepreneurship network, Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs (A.Y.E). The conference will hold on November 30, 2017 at Lagos Oriental Hotel.

Dr. Wiese confirmed his attendance during a courtesy visit by the President of A.Y.E, Mr. Summy Smart Francis and other executives of the organisation to Wiese’s Cape Town office in preparation for the high-impact conference to be headlined by Mr. Jack Ma, Founder and Chairman of Alibaba Group.

The A.Y.E Networking with the Giants conference will be a convergence of global corporate and business giants. It will also feature other eminent personalities such as former President Olusegun Obasanjo, world’s richest black woman; Mrs. Folorunso Alakija, leading politician and thinker; Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Dr. John Moore (USA), Mrs. Patti Boulaye Obe (UK), Mr. Ashish Thakkar (Uganda) and many others.
A.Y.E said the conference will also provide a networking platform for budding entrepreneurs, government leaders, Policy Makers, Business Executives, MDs/CEOs, Directors, Public and Private Sector Industry leaders to connect and share insights with like minds.
Dr. Wiese who will be making his first visit to Nigeria for the conference stated; "I have never been to Nigeria due to my very busy schedule, I have missed two previous networking with the Giant conferences but will be happy to attend this and network with different people that I have never met before".

He was recently honoured as the 11th A.Y.E Honorary Member. Dr. Wiese is widely regarded as one of the world's most successful businessmen. Apart from being the controlling shareholder of Shoprite, he is also the Chairman of Invicta Holdings Limited and Pepkor. He is an Independent Non-Executive Director at Steinhoff International Holdings Limited and currently serves on the boards of numerous companies.

He admonished young entrepreneurs across Africa to work. "I am an African; I believe there are fantastic opportunities in Africa and that this century will be an African century”. Dr. Wiese defined a typical entrepreneur as an individual who spots an opportunity in a marketplace and then gives up the security of his or her salary cheque to follow his dream and start from the scratch.

Shoprite Holdings Limited became operational in Nigeria in 2005 during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo with its first outlet at the Palms Shopping Centre in Victoria Island. Regarded as Africa's largest retail supermarket, Shoprite has a network of about 2,689 outlets across 15 countries in Africa and Indian Ocean Islands.

Commenting on his encounter with Dr. Wiese, Mr. Francis, President of A.Y.E said it was overwhelming. "His message went straight to my heart and everyone has to hear it for himself/herself so as to fully experience the impact of the counsel," he stated.

Dr. Wiese also expressed profound support for Season II of A.Y.E Reality TV show, the world’s biggest entrepreneurial reality show. It will empower 500 young African entrepreneurs and also showcase interesting, innovative and inspiring businesses to millions of viewers on over 8 Terrestrial and Cable TV stations in Africa from October 1st to December 2017.

*Hundreds of beautiful ladies eye brand new car, N5m cash, other prizes

Lagos, September 14, 2017: Nigeria’s first upscale cultural beauty competition, Queen Móremí Àjàsorò (QMA) beauty pageant is generating huge excitement among beautiful Nigerian ladies as over 500 damsels have registered to participate in the 2017 edition of the competition.

Registration for the 2017 sophomore edition of the competition closes on September 30 and its organisers said they have been stunned by the number of remarkably beautiful ladies who already expressed interest by submitting their registration forms through http://www.qmainternational.com/entry_form_2017/.

Winner of this year’s edition will receive a cash prize of five million Naira to set up her own business. Additionally, the winner will have access to business advice from experts to ensure that the business remains successful and profitable. Other prizes include a brand new saloon car and a wardrobe of designers’ outfits from leading fashion brands. The winner will also automatically become a cultural ambassador to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi on all his trips around the world.



QMA beauty pageant was introduced in 2016 as an initiative of the Royal Palace of the Ooni of Ife, to further immortalise one of the greatest heroines of Yorùbáland whose exemplary life, intervention and sacrifice saved her people and king from slavery and extinction.

According to a statement signed by Ms. Florence Bodunri Hungbo, the youth Ambassador for the QMA project, “Registration for this year’s edition is free and will close by Saturday, September 30. Participation is exclusive to young girls of Yoruba descent”. She added that any lady whose mum or dad is Yoruba is qualified to contest.

Speaking on the drive behind the initiative, Ms. Bodunri emphasised that QMA beauty pageant was aimed at sustaining the historical thematic virtues of Queen Móremí Àjàsorò whose heroic legacies will continue to endure in the chronicles of both Yoruba and world histories.

She further hinted that so much is expected of the lucky lady that would be crowned as the most celebrated and visible cultural queen in Nigeria come November 2017. The Queen Móremí Àjàsorò beauty pageant would showcase intelligent, culturally aware, strong and beautiful young ladies that exemplify the heroic attributes of Ife's greatest queen.

“Apart from upholding the legacy of Queen Móremí, the pageant would use beauty to promote business ideas for economic growth and youth development”, she stated.

Also speaking on the virtues of Queen Móremí Àjàsorò, His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II said, "Móremí Àjàsorò exhibited an unrivalled heroism of world’s liberty and dedicated her life to the liberation of mankind by sacrificing her only child to free the people of Oodua land from the invasion of some faceless terrorists thousands of years ago".

The Ooni said, "Queen Móremí represents an indelible new dawn of great awakening for the development of the Yorùbá culture. This mission is very close to my heart and touches my global re-enactment of the Yorùbá culture.”

As part of the comprehensive plan towards achieving a clean and healthy environment under the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI), the Lagos State Government has commenced the construction of the first engineered sanitary landfill in West Africa.

The 88-hectare landfill located in Epe is being developed in a public-private partnership between Visionscape Sanitation Solutions and the Lagos State Government. Upon completion, the landfill infrastructure will have state-of-the-art environmental protection features including engineered cells, groundwater protection, leachate collection & treatment facilities, weigh bridges, Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and an EcoPark, a green area that supports a wide variety of ecosystems and promotes sustainability.

The landfill, designed for the scientific handling of waste, will blend in with the surrounding area while waste will be compacted and covered daily. There are also plans to construct a waste to energy facility to convert landfill gas which is a natural byproduct of the decomposition of organic materials on landfill sites into alternative energy sources such as electricity.

Speaking on the Epe Landfill site, the State’s Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Babatunde Adejare said, "The development of the Epe landfill site is one of the solutions adopted by Lagos State Government to turn focus on the waste management problems that have plagued the State for decades. The facility will enable the state government to develop an integrated system for the handling of waste which will curb pollution and mitigate public and occupational health hazards.”

The State Government recently announced its plans to close existing dumpsites in phases. The dumpsites, mostly within city limits, are under tremendous pressure from the thousands of wastes generated across the state daily.

The Epe landfill and EcoPark is situated over 5 kilometers from the main township of Epe in line with global environmental health & safety best practices.

World's largest entrepreneurship network, A.Y.E appoints Opeseitan PR ambassador

Africa's Young Entrepreneurs (A.Y.E), the World's largest entrepreneurship network, with over 12.6 million members across Africa, has appointed a top Public Relations practitioner, Olabode Opeseitan as its Public Relations ambassador.

In a statement signed by A.Y.E's Regional Manager, Joy Michael, the Johannesburg, South-Africa headquartered organization said Opeseitan’s enormous continental PR experience will be harnessed to support the promotion of one of the network’s fundamental goals of arousing the entrepreneurial skills of young Africans and transforming them into a global economic power house.

"Our focus at A.Y.E is the successful development of Africa’s budding entrepreneurs through mutual networking in collaboration with established captains of industry, government parastatals and international organisations. We are delighted that Mr. Opeseitan identifies with A.Y.E's objectives and has accepted to be our PR Ambassador, thereby using his decades of experience in journalism, public relations, events and promotions to support the bold agenda of A.Y.E to uplift Africa’s budding entrepreneurs," said Michael. 

In his acceptance remarks, Opeseitan congratulated the A.Y.E for what he called its very noble objectives and thanked the organization for considering him worthy of the honour, promising to use his knowledge and extensive pan-Africa contacts to support “the virtuous and altruistic mission of the group.”

Opeseitan who, with other like minds, founded SA&B, a new fully integrated Marketing Communications company in August, 2017, had worked at African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN), the oldest privately-owned newspaper in Nigeria where he rose to become the Editor of the Saturday edition of ANN's publications and joined Globacom Limited in 2003, where he served in various capacities, including the Director of PR, Events and Promotions until July 2017.

In its mission statement, A.Y.E stated that it is committed to empowering young entrepreneurs across Africa by creating platforms that facilitate intra-trade on the continent. "We are dedicated to developing the next generation of outstanding African entrepreneurs, who will shape the economies and political landscapes of their home countries," said the A.Y.E Regional Manager.

Founded by Summy Smart Francis in 2010, A.Y.E is a non-profit organisation based in Johannesburg, South Africa. It facilitates intra-trade among African entrepreneurs in 20 African countries, United States of America and the United Kingdom.

Earlier in the year, A.Y.E was declared as the largest entrepreneurship network in the world by the Global Entrepreneurship Institute, a global body based in Washington DC in the United States of America. The institute said that in a systematic research process it conducted, the A.Y.E, with over 12.6 million entrepreneurs, beat several other entrepreneurship platforms around the world to emerge the largest global entrepreneurship network.

Some of the entrepreneurship programmes organized by A.Y.E include Harvest Africa, a program which showcases investment opportunities in Africa; Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs Student Association (AYESA); My Mentor & Me, an online mentorship platform; Web Business Campaign (WBC), a platform where entrepreneurs showcase their businesses to angel investors; and Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs Empowerment Program (AYEEP), a program that identifies and empowers innovative entrepreneurs in Africa with grants, equipment, loans, specialized training, business make-overs and training. In 2016, the A.Y.E launched a reality TV show that showcases to the world, through modern and traditional media, a diverse pool of interesting, innovative and exceptional young entrepreneurs in Africa. The second season of the program will be aired by over 10 TV stations in Africa from October to December 2017.

The Organisation's Chief Executive Matron, Mrs. Folorunso Alakija and the Patrons, Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, among others, have been using their resources to promote entrepreneurship in Africa.

Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode has again lauded the contributions of an environmental utility group, Visionscape Sanitations Solution Limited to the current efforts of his administration to evolve international best practice in the management of the environment, saying that the firm deserved commendation for its determination to ensure the success of the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI).

Speaking on a television programme monitored in Lagos, Governor Ambode said so far so good, over 500, 000 brand-new e-waste bins and brand-new compactors have been brought in by Visionscape without receiving a kobo from government, while the company is also transforming the transfer loading stations at Simpson, Oshodi and Agege.

In addition, Governor Ambode revealed that a modern engineered sanitary landfill is currently being constructed in Epe by Visionscape, while an exercise tagged ‘Operation Deep Clean’ meant to be a stopgap for the full take off of the CLI, is simultaneously going on across the State to evacuate waste and ensure every part of the State is clean.

While justifying the rationale behind the new waste management initiative, the Governor said: “In the last two years, we have found out that Lagos generates one of the highest volumes of waste in the world. At the last count, documented waste in Lagos was estimated at 13,000 tonnes per day. Considering undocumented statistics, we can add an additional 4,000 tonnes per day to that figure.

“Now, if we want to be revolutionary, if we want to be globally competitive, if we want to deliver on the promise that I made to accomplish a clean, safe, and prosperous Lagos, we cannot use the same template that has been in use from the past. Cleaning Lagos and keeping the environment clean has nothing to do with environmental sanitation and putting your economic productivity at a standstill for three hours every month. That will not clean Lagos.

“Cleaning Lagos means we should give Lagosians scientifically treated land fill sites, transfer loading stations, functional dyno-bins, functional compactors, brand new materials and also be able to employ more people. That is why I extended my hand to the private sector for a partnership that will lead to the introduction of 500 brand new compactors, employ more than 27,000 street sweepers across the various wards in Lagos and create 200,000 indirect jobs. And we are commencing this in another few weeks,” Governor Ambode said.

The Governor stressed that he was not oblivious of the concerns of the people who have been cleaning Lagos in the past years, and that the new policy was not intended to send them out of jobs, rather it would help scale up their businesses.

According to him, “The new model is a win-win for all of us; I have offered them a 100 percent income from the commercial enterprise, so that our private sector participants (PSPs) can gain capacity and also get more capital to do more work. There are over 5,000 companies in Lagos – enough to go around all the PSP operators, with a minimum of 15 companies to each PSP. The government can support them to make their contract with those companies bankable.

“So, while we are using the Cleaner Lagos Initiative to clean private residences and domestic refuse, our original PSP operators are compensated by dealing with companies and getting 100 percent revenues with just one percent administrative charges to Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA). In the past, LAWMA collected 40 percent in charges.

“This reform is a product of deep thought and serious human consideration for the environment and all stakeholders. We promise Lagosians that effective from September – within six months – they will see the difference. All they need to do to help us achieve this goal is to cooperate with the government and pay the annual public utility levy in accordance with the law. This is what will fund the project.

“Our bins will be cleared systematically on a daily basis. The same way the refuse on Adeola Odeku is cleared is the same way refuse in Badagry, Ayobo, Agege and other parts of Lagos will be cleared,” Governor Ambode explained.

Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode has again lauded the contributions of an environmental utility group, Visionscape Sanitations Solution Limited to the current efforts of his administration to evolve international best practice in the management of the environment, saying that the firm deserved commendation for its determination to ensure the success of the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI).

Speaking on a television programme monitored in Lagos, Governor Ambode said so far so good, over 500, 000 brand-new e-waste bins and brand-new compactors have been brought in by Visionscape without receiving a kobo from government, while the company is also transforming the transfer loading stations at Simpson, Oshodi and Agege.

In addition, Governor Ambode revealed that a modern engineered sanitary landfill is currently being constructed in Epe by Visionscape, while an exercise tagged ‘Operation Deep Clean’ meant to be a stopgap for the full take off of the CLI, is simultaneously going on across the State to evacuate waste and ensure every part of the State is clean.

While justifying the rationale behind the new waste management initiative, the Governor said: “In the last two years, we have found out that Lagos generates one of the highest volumes of waste in the world. At the last count, documented waste in Lagos was estimated at 13,000 tonnes per day. Considering undocumented statistics, we can add an additional 4,000 tonnes per day to that figure.

“Now, if we want to be revolutionary, if we want to be globally competitive, if we want to deliver on the promise that I made to accomplish a clean, safe, and prosperous Lagos, we cannot use the same template that has been in use from the past. Cleaning Lagos and keeping the environment clean has nothing to do with environmental sanitation and putting your economic productivity at a standstill for three hours every month. That will not clean Lagos.

“Cleaning Lagos means we should give Lagosians scientifically treated land fill sites, transfer loading stations, functional dyno-bins, functional compactors, brand new materials and also be able to employ more people. That is why I extended my hand to the private sector for a partnership that will lead to the introduction of 500 brand new compactors, employ more than 27,000 street sweepers across the various wards in Lagos and create 200,000 indirect jobs. And we are commencing this in another few weeks,” Governor Ambode said.

The Governor stressed that he was not oblivious of the concerns of the people who have been cleaning Lagos in the past years, and that the new policy was not intended to send them out of jobs, rather it would help scale up their businesses.

According to him, “The new model is a win-win for all of us; I have offered them a 100 percent income from the commercial enterprise, so that our private sector participants (PSPs) can gain capacity and also get more capital to do more work. There are over 5,000 companies in Lagos – enough to go around all the PSP operators, with a minimum of 15 companies to each PSP. The government can support them to make their contract with those companies bankable.

“So, while we are using the Cleaner Lagos Initiative to clean private residences and domestic refuse, our original PSP operators are compensated by dealing with companies and getting 100 percent revenues with just one percent administrative charges to Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA). In the past, LAWMA collected 40 percent in charges.

“This reform is a product of deep thought and serious human consideration for the environment and all stakeholders. We promise Lagosians that effective from September – within six months – they will see the difference. All they need to do to help us achieve this goal is to cooperate with the government and pay the annual public utility levy in accordance with the law. This is what will fund the project.

“Our bins will be cleared systematically on a daily basis. The same way the refuse on Adeola Odeku is cleared is the same way refuse in Badagry, Ayobo, Agege and other parts of Lagos will be cleared,” Governor Ambode explained.

Following the horrific mudslide and flooding event in the outskirts of Freetown, Sierra Leone on the 14th August 2017, Visionscape Sanitation Solutions, a subsidiary of Visionscape Group, an environmental utility group out of Dubai, UAE with its waste management partner Masada Waste Management Company, Freetown have partnered to donate relief items to the affected victims.

Within the first 48 hours of the disaster, the Masada and Visionscape teams diverted resources and were on the ground visiting victims of the majorly affected communities to show support and deliver much needed supplies. The partners distributed food, hygiene products, tents for shelter, bedding, bottles of drinking water and other items to help aid the displaced flood victims as they cope with this tragic loss.

The communities headed by their local chiefs, witnessed by the Office of National Security, The Presidential Delivery Team, Members of Parliament of the communities and humanitarian and aid workers from various disaster relief agencies are all working together to assist and rescue victims.

First civilian Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande has urged residents of the State to cooperate with the present administration under the leadership of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in its bid to transform the solid waste management sector in line with global best practices.



Governor Ambode, through a new policy termed Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI), is seeking to revolutionize waste collection and management in the State with the aim of promoting public health and bequeathing the State with functional, livable and cleaner environment.



Under the initiative, which is billed to commence next month, 27,500 sanitation workers would be employed and deployed to all the political wards in the State to keep the inner streets clean 24/7, while mechanized sweeping equipment would be deployed to the highways.



Also, a consortium of reputable firms specializing in waste management led by Visionscape, has been assembled to collect waste in the residential areas, while the existing licensed Private Sector Participation waste managers, otherwise known as PSP operators, would collect commercial waste.




Speaking on the development, Jakande said any initiative geared towards bringing about clean environment should be supported by the people, just as he urged residents to cooperate with the State Government.



“Anything that is meant to clear refuse in any part of the State is welcomed. No State wants refuse and Lagos State cannot be an exception but I know that they have agencies in charge of keeping Lagos State as clean as it should and there is no reason why every citizen of Lagos State whether indigene or not should not support the government.



“So far, I have not seen any strong opposition to it but I believe that this present administration in Lagos State is doing very well and I want all of us in Lagos State to support the Governor. He has lived up to expectations. Lagos State will benefit in every sense from his activities and I must say we are lucky to have him,” Jakande said.



In an earlier statement, Governor Ambode had announced that the Olusosun dumpsite and others which had been major eyesores located within living neighborhood would be closed for engineered sanitary landfills, while the three transfer loading stations/material recovery facilities at Agege, Oshodi and Simpson and three waste depots at Mushin, Ogudu and Simpson are being rehabilitated and retrofitted to world class standard with the view to facilitating efficient waste collection and disposal operations.

He said that with the construction of sanitary landfills in place, issues of dumping of waste in drainage channels and on roadsides would finally be eliminated in the state.

Speaking at a sensitization workshop on 2017 Water Technology and Environmental Control Conference and Exhibition WATEC, held at Ikeja, Governor Ambode said the overall objective of the new environmental policy of his administration as encapsulated in the Cleaner Lagos Initiative, is basically to capitalize on the vantage position of Lagos as the world’s highest producer of waste by adopting a waste-to-wealth programme with the view to tackling environmental challenges and growing the state’s Gross Domestic Product GDP. “You see, I live in Ikeja and each time I have to pass through Motorways, I don’t like what I see. That is not a land fill site in Olusosun, it is a dump site. The place is an eyesore and it is the first thing you see when you are coming into Lagos and that is not what you should see in a city that is globally competitive. “The impression that has been given is that Olusosun is a land fill site but the answer is no. It is not scientifically treated. You only allow compactors to go and drop waste in a living neighborhood. Who does that? It has been there for almost 30 years and nobody looked at it, but we are now looking at it. The truth is this, with the CLI, we have to shut down Olusosun dump site and part of the contract is that Visionscape will give us new land fill sites that are scientifically treated”, Ambode said. He revealed that the integrated waste management services contract recently sealed by the State Government with a leading environmental utility group, Visionscape, is targeted at ending the perennial flooding confronting the state, and ensuring a clean and livable environment. According to the contract spanning 10 years, Visionscape which specializes in providing turnkey solutions in areas of sanitation, energy and waste water treatment, will be responsible for door-to-door waste collection services to households in the state. While clarifying issues raised by some of the participants at the workshop, Ambode expressed excitement at the decision of Visionscape to key into the vision of his administration to revolutionize waste management in the state, pointing out that Lagos is generating the highest waste per day in the world more than New York.

The Lagos State Government has issued a stern warning to residents dumping refuse indiscriminately on the streets and dredgers sand filling wetlands to desist from such unwholesome practice or face the wrath of the law.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare who stated this on Friday in Lagos whilst fielding questions on a television programme said the PSP operators could not cope with the quantum of waste being generated in the state estimated to be 13,000 metric tons per day.

He said the PSP operators erroneously believed that they were being put out of business and assured them that they were still an integral part of the loop as attested to by the on-going re-certification exercise of the operators.
He disclosed that the Lagos State Government was tackling the knotty waste problems in the state in a comprehensive manner with the assistance of about 12 consortiums including Visionscape, a globally acclaimed environmental utility group that would confront the issue with technology, better funding and germane solutions under the Cleaner Lagos Initiative which will become fully operational in September.


He said that what was currently being experienced was just the transitory period aggravated by acts of saboteurs and dredgers involving only transportation of waste, adding that under CLI refuse will be a resource to the government.
His words: “Under the CLI, waste would first be collected from all the 377 wards in the state before being transported to the Material Recovery Facility (MRF) where they would be sorted out into nylons, papers, bottles and organic wastes for recycling. About 27, 500 workers would be employed and they would earn slightly more than the minimum wage, enjoy medical and life insurance as well as injury cover. They will not spend money on transportation as they would be recruited from their neighbourhood”.

The Commissioner assured residents and indigenes of the state that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode would deliver on all his promises, adding that Lagos State would be the first state in the country to surmount the problem of waste disposal.

The Lagos State Government has earned the praises of residents of the state for its swift response after a street in Surulere area of the state, Akobi Crescent was flooded and overtaken by debris following a torrential rainfall.

The debris elicited concern from Lagosians who took to their social media handle to express their apprehension. However, within a few hours after the incident happened, officials of Lagos State Government and Visionscape, a globally acclaimed environmental utility group, moved their heavy-duty equipment to the flashpoint and quickly evacuated the tonnes of debris from the area.

Impressed by the quick response, many residents of the state took to their social media handle to show their appreciation.
Toyin Olufemi Bawaallah said on facebook after watching the video of the clean up exercise, “Good job. I am familiar with the area…..”
Another respondent, Azuka Jebose said, “Great rapid response by you guys. Governance is a two way street. The government must meet its responsibility to the people. We the people must also meet ours the govt. Our mindset should change toward our involvement in cleaner society or environment. The earth does not belong to us. We belong to it. Our civic responsibilities to help government to help us cannot be over-emphasised. So next time you drink pure water satchet or bottle, discard wastes purposefully. We must help government to help us. Thanks for the rapid response”.

In his response, Alexis Onome-Egborge said, “Great to see the work is being done.”

In her comment on twitter, a lady, Victoria simply said, “Thanks to @AkinwunmiAmbode and Visionscape. Our streets are clean again, while Mayowa Balogun, also on twitter said, what happened (has) happened but I am happy with the response by the government.
The Lagos State Government said that working in conjunction with Visionscape, it has intensified activities aimed at clearing refuse from all illegal dumpsites spread across the State in an a special process tagged ‘Operation Deep Clean’.

The State’s Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Babatunde Adejare, in an interview, said the State Government would spare no efforts in ridding the state of all illegal dumpsites, which have been designated as environmental dark spots, assuring that such sites would be cleaned up in the next 60 days.

“Yes, I can confirm that we have commenced ‘Operation Deep Clean’ in partnership with Visionscape”, he said while affirming that this was why the state government was able to swiftly clear from the streets, the heaps of refuse which took over Akobi Crescent in Surulere after a heavy downpour.

“One thing I can assure Lagosians is that as a State Government, we are very determined to bequeath a clean, livable and flood-free environment to the people of this State,” Adejare said.

The State Government had sealed an integrated waste management services contract with Visionscape targeted at ending the perennial flooding confronting the State and ensuring a clean and livable environment. According to the contract spanning 10 years, Visionscape which specializes in providing turnkey solutions in areas of sanitation, energy and wastewater treatment, will be responsible for door-to-door waste collection services to households in the State.

Below is a picture taken after the Lagos State Government had evacuated the waste from the Street, and those of Operation Deep Clean in other parts of the State.

Lagos Govt evacuates debris from Akobi Crescent
Following the heavy downpour in Lagos on Saturday which turned some key parts of the city into heaps of refuse, the Lagos State Government promptly swung into action and evacuated the debris.

The worst hit part of the town was Akobi Crescent in Surulere area of Lagos.

However, by 9pm yesterday, officials of both the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Visionscape, the global environment utility group had evacuated all the debris.

The prompt action elicited positive comments from residents of the city, particularly those living in Surulere.

Below are pictures taken after the Lagos State Government had evacuated the waste from the street.

The newly formed Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps, LAGESC, formerly known as the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) has disclosed that its top priority as it begins operation will be to ensure that environmental infractions become a thing of the past in the state.

The Executive Secretary of LAGESC, Mrs Idowu Mohammed disclosed this on Tuesday at a press conference to intimate the people about the activities of the new Corps. She also stated that LAGESC will make sure that the environment is kept clean at all times in line with the mandate of Cleaner Lagos Initiative.

She assured that henceforth, LAGESC will prevent market women and traders generally from displaying their wares on the road.

Mohammed said the corps would now be used to police the highways to ensure that people did not dump refuse indiscriminately on the roads in order to ensure a cleaner Lagos.

“The sanitation corps will now clear the pathways and bridges and dislodge people selling on the road. They will make sure that the roads are clean and that there is no infraction. They will make sure that the Public Utility Levy is paid by residents of Lagos State.

She assured residents of the state that the new corps will carry out its responsibilities with international best practices, noting that gone were the days when KAI officials conducted their affairs in less civilised manners.

“We are out to serve the residents with all civility and decorum. Government’s aim is to provide and promote a cleaner and healthy environment, devoid of indiscriminate dumping of refuse and drainage blockade,” she said.

Mohammed that the Lagos State Government will deploy motorized trucks to sweep highways across the state rather than allow street sweepers to do the job, which previously endangered their lives and exposed them to the risk of being knocked down by vehicles.

The LAGESC top executive said motorized trucks would now sweep the highways and that over 27,000 of the 30,000 sweepers that would be recruited would be made to sweep streets in their communities and be paid salaries above the N18,000 minimum wage.

“Under the Cleaner Lagos Initiative, 30,000 jobs will be created for sweepers. We have an agreement backed up by the Lagos State Government. In the old waste management system, wastes were collected, but the disposal mechanism was the problem,” she said.

Managing Director, Solid Waste Management (SWM) Solutions, a consultant to the Lagos State government, Tolagbe Martins, while assuring the public of better days ahead in waste management, stated that the Cleaner Lagos Initiative was incomplete without effective enforcement and total compliance, adding that this is where LAGESC will play dominant roles.

“The aim of Cleaner Lagos Initiative is to create an enabling environment for investment. The passage of the law enabling private sector participation in waste management has made it a reality”, she stated.

Martins explained that the “Public Utility Levies (PUL) is a property-based charge applicable to all properties within the state. It has replaced all previous waste management levies”. She added that under the new dispensation, the Public Utilities Monitoring and Assurance Unit (PUMAU) has been created to coordinate PUL bill generation.

She also disclosed that the Lagos State Government had concessioned three Landfills under the Build, Own, Operate and Transfer, BOOT, for a period of 25 years, adding that this would take effect from next year.

She said pending the readiness of the three landfills, the government would make do with what was available now, but noted that the Olusosun dumpsite would be closed immediately the landfills were ready.


It will be recalled that Governor Ambode recently announced during the soft launch of the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI) that the laws had created an enabling environment for the private sector to harness international best practice in solid waste management which will consequently free public funds for other beneficial uses.

…launches first phase of Cleaner Lagos Initiative to revolutionize solid waste management

The Lagos State Government has commended Visionscape Sanitation Solutions Limited, an innovative environmental utility group, for investing in Nigeria during a period of economic recession and inflation when other investors had considered it unhealthy to invest in the country.

The State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, represented by the state’s Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, stated this at the soft launch of the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI) and the commissioning of Nigeria’s first 24-hour waste management depot on Friday at Ogudu. He described the commissioning as a vote of confidence and expressed delight that Phase One of the CLI, a pet vision of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, was finally taking off. “The soft launch of the new waste management policy is a dream come true, and a demonstrable evidence of what determination and proper planning could bring into fruition,” he added.

The commissioner also averred that the Lagos State Government has its vote of confidence in Visionscape. “We believe in Visionscape. We are standing by you. We know you can do it. With your capabilities and clout, Lagos State will be the cleanest city in the world. We will work with you in every way and we will make it happen together. This is your Lagos, our Lagos”.

He called on Lagosians to embrace the Cleaner Lagos Initiative which will add value to the quality of life in the city and stressed that the Ambode government will not evade challenges but will rather face it head-on to deliver solutions.

He also reiterated the commitment of the Akinwunmi Ambode administration to bequeath Lagos State with a functional, robust and sustainable waste management system that would transform the State into the cleanest city in the world.

The commissioner stated that Governor Ambode’s dream all along had always been to positively affect the State as far as waste management is concerned, and that his commitment to follow it through was unwavering.
He said: “Coming here and seeing these fantastically looking vans and trucks of Visionscape that would be used for waste management in the State is inspiring and encouraging. This is just a small bit of what we intend to launch through the CLI in days to come.

“I must say I am one of the happiest persons in the world today because a lot of people thought that this would not be achieved but here we are today launching the first phase.

“I just want to say here that we have always believed in Visionscape and if not, we would not have chosen the consortium to do this for us. We firmly believe in the firm; we are standing by them because we know they can do it and they will do it and make Lagos to be the cleanest city in the world by the grace of God.

“We are very glad and satisfied with the giant strides Visionscape is taking in ensuring that we achieve the aim that we have all sat down to set. I just want to admonish members of staff of the firm that apart from what they would be paid, they should see this as their own contribution to making Lagos what we all want it to be, which is to become the cleanest city in the world.”

Earlier, in his opening remarks, Visionscape’s Executive Director, Mr Harry Ackerman said the company was delighted to be part of the journey to make Lagos a clean State, assuring that modern techniques and technologies in waste management would be deployed to provide top class services for the people.

He said: “Our top priority is to ensure that the waste management needs of Lagos are met. We will do this by implementing sustainable long-term solutions that are tailor-made for Lagos specifically.

“We have also developed sound business models, processes and technologies which are a central component of our integrated waste management plan. We are refurbishing, building and upgrading waste management facilities located in different parts of the State. These include engineered sanitary landfills, transfer loading stations, material recovering facilities and multiple maintenance centres,” he added.
Visionscape Sanitation Solutions has successfully completed the development of their first waste management depot in Lagos State. Located in Ogudu, making it the first of three 24-hour depots, that company will open in Lagos State.

In addition to the Ogudu depot which was commissioned on Friday, two other depots will be located in Mushin and Lagos Island. The Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI) was established by the Lagos State Government to address, enforce and regulate the challenges in the solid waste management systems within Lagos State. The initiative is focused on improving the environment to make it cleaner, safer and healthier for all Lagos State residents, while also improving operational efficiency in waste management. Visionscape, currently in a public-private partnership with the Lagos State Government, is set to provide waste management services for the CLI, under the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).

The High Court of Lagos State on Friday, 23rd June, 2017, in a suit commenced by the Incorporated Trustees of Association of Waste Managers in Nigeria (PSP operators), refused to issue any restraining order as prayed by the PSP operators, seeking to restrain the Lagos State Government from engaging any other entity to carry out domestic waste collection in Lagos State. The Court also held that it is premature to consider applications that will determine the substance of the suit.

Consequently, the Court made an order for accelerated hearing of the matter. Flowing from this, the Court adjourned the matter for 4 (Four) consecutive days in October 2017 for trial.

Also, the Counsel to the 4th and 5th Defendants(Visionscape Group & Visionscape Sanitation Solution) informed the Court of his motion for leave of Court to file a Further Counter Affidavit which was objected to by the Counsel to the PSP operators. This led to a heated debate between the Counsel to the PSP operators and the 4th and 5th Defendants. Thus, the court stood down the matter in order to restore calm.

At the resumed hearing, Counsel to the PSP operators made an oral request to the Court for the status quo to be maintained. Also, he prayed that the Lagos State Government should be restrained from engaging any other person to take over domestic waste collection in Lagos State.

In opposing the application by PSP operators, Mr. S.A. Quadri, lead Counsel to Lagos State government stated that the contracts between the aforesaid PSP operators and the Lagos State Government had since expired at different times and the latest in November, 2016.

Sequel to the expiration of the aforesaid contract, the Lagos State Government in December 2016, entered into a contract with another Nigerian company to carry out domestic waste collection in the State. He further stated that the aforesaid company will be utilizing their funds and employing modern technology of comparable standard with the one utilized in developed countries, to carry out domestic waste collection in Lagos State.

Mr. Quadri stated that the expired transactions between Lagos State and the PSP operators were not sustainable as the Government was bleeding cash. Whereas, the newly engaged contractor will deploy its funds and equipment to achieve the Cleaner Lagos Initiative. He added that it is a cost saving measure for the State Government.


He said the Lagos State Government is also not oblivious of the business concerns and livelihood of the PSP operators and has made adequate provision for them. They are meant to handle commercial waste disposal in Lagos State.

The Counsel to the 4th and 5th Defendants further stated that the Lagos State government had invited the PSP operators for recertification and more than 90% of them had complied. Thus, making the suit an academic exercise.

The lawyer posited that despite the expiration of the contract between the Lagos State Government and the PSP operators, they want the Government to continue to engage them for domestic waste collection by force at their own terms.

The counsel to Lagos State Government also argued that even if the agreements between the State Government and the PSP operators were subsisting, the Government has the right to terminate the agreements pursuant to the termination clauses therein.

He concluded that the PSP operators, therefore, did not have any right upon which to base their case as there is no agreement between Lagos State Government and the Claimants. In spite of all these, he said the Lagos State Government is still desirous of keeping the PSP operators engaged.

Trial will commence in the matter on 3rd October, 2017, pursuant to the order for accelerated hearing made by the Court.

A leading environmental utility group, Visionscape and the first sustainable beach in Nigeria, Kids Beach Garden (KBG) have perfected plans to plant 1000 trees in the coastal areas of Lagos State in commemoration of the World Environment Day (WED) slated to come up on June 5, 2017.

The tree planting exercise, according to a statement jointly issued on Sunday by Visionscape and KBG, is billed to hold between 7am and 12pm at the Garden located in Ikate area of the State.

Visionscape, which is the concessionaire appointed by the Lagos State Government to implement the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI), is putting up the programme to bring awareness on the need to carry out deliberate actions to protect the environment.

The exercise, in the statement signed by KBG’s Managing Director, Doyin Ogunye, was part of efforts to raise global awareness on the emerging environmental issues from marine pollution and global warming, to sustainable consumption and wildlife crime.

Aside the tree planting exercise, the event would also be devoted towards encouraging beach cleaning, recycling and sanitation activities across the Lagos coastline, while sports, fitness and physical health would also be on display, all in a bid to exhibit the possibility of a truly green society.

The WED has grown to become a global platform for public outreach, with participation from over 143 countries annually.

The day set aside by the United Nations (UN) since 1974, is the biggest annual event for positive environmental action, and is the UN’s principal vehicle for encouraging worldwide awareness and action to protect the environment.

According to the statement, “This year’s theme – Connecting People To Nature – urges us to get outdoors and appreciate nature, the world’s beauty and its importance, while empowering us to protect the Earth.

“By this, the UN wants us to think about role and dependence on nature and as well challenging the people to find fun and exciting ways to experience and cherish such vital relationship.”

Besides, the statement observed that despite efforts of the State Government to protect the environment especially the shoreline and coastline, the positive impact of such efforts were yet to be massively felt, and as such, deliberate action would be geared towards enlightening the people, especially inhabitants of the coastal areas of the State.

“Our coastlines, waterways and ocean are heavily polluted with solid and hazardous waste and despite the efforts of the State to reduce this, there is still a lot to do particularly in empowering and enlightening Lagosians of the effects.

“We have, therefore, adopted a micro and more specific method of reducing these pollutions and their effects, by concentrating on the main agents of pollution – the people that inhabit the coastal areas of Lagos State,” the statement said.

Hitherto , April 22nd of every year meant nothing especial to me apart from being the birthday of three members of my extended family . Last Saturday, April 22nd, 2017 took on a more significant importance with an event I chanced on. Around 10.30am on the fateful day, I was just driving from Falomo towards Lekki via the iconic link bridge when I saw a group of people decked in green and white tshirts with ‘earth day’ and ‘visionscape’ boldly emblazoned on them congregating right inside the Alexander roundabout in Ikoyi. They were assisting about twenty young children to carry a certain task which was not visible to me from afar. This rekindled my curiousity. So I parked to make an enquiry. As I approached the tent, I heard a mother driving past shouting “we have kids too, can we come ?”. A lady retorted “why not!” and the woman in question parked and joined the group.
On joining the group, I was informed that it was the the celebration of the World Earth Day by Visionscape, an international leading environmental utility group providing turnkey solutions in areas of sanitation, energy and waste water treatment. I was shocked to learn that every 22nd April is observed as as the World Earth Day since 1970! Waoh! A whopping 47 years and the day does not have the clout of other popular days in Nigeria in spite of the overwhelming significance of the earth. I also learnt that an American Senator from Wisconsin, Gayford Nelson first conceived of the World Earth Day when he was worried about the rate of industrialization and the careless attitude of people towards the environment.
Like Visionscape, the Earth Day Network is in the vanguard of the celebration in over 193 countries. I commend Visionscape for marking the Day with children who are the leaders of tomorrow. This is indeed a visionary move that would sensitize the next generation to the need to protect the environment. The auguries are alarming to say the least, our planet earth is reported to be losing over 15 billion trees every year which translates to losing about 5.6 acres of forest every minute! Neglect of the environment is causing severe problems like the depletion of the ozone layer, death of rivers due to dumping of industrial waste and global warming.
Visionscape demonstrated this by teaching the young ones how to plant trees to green the environment in line with the reforestation campaign geared to benefit communities, increase habitat for species and combat climate change . The company stressed the importance of caring and loving the earth passionately.
At the ceremony, Visionscape asked people to join in the effort to safeguard the earth by planting trees, limiting use of vehicles in order to reduce pollution and conserving petrol and switching off lights when not in use in addition to reducing carbon footprints by recycling papers and putting a stop to the use of plastic bags.
The theme of this year’s celebration ‘Environmental and Climate Literacy’ was well articulated by the Visionscape team and one can only hope that the company would sustain the scope of its advocacy for a better environment

Hitherto , April 22nd of every year meant nothing especial to me apart from being the birthday of three members of my extended family . Last Saturday, April 22nd, 2017 took on a more significant importance with an event I chanced on. Around 10.30am on the fateful day, I was just driving from Falomo towards Lekki via the iconic link bridge when I saw a group of people decked in green and white tshirts with ‘earth day’ and ‘visionscape’ boldly emblazoned on them congregating right inside the Alexander roundabout in Ikoyi. They were assisting about twenty young children to carry a certain task which was not visible to me from afar. This rekindled my curiousity. So I parked to make an enquiry. As I approached the tent, I heard a mother driving past shouting “we have kids too, can we come ?”. A lady retorted “why not!” and the woman in question parked and joined the group.
On joining the group, I was informed that it was the the celebration of the World Earth Day by Visionscape, an international leading environmental utility group providing turnkey solutions in areas of sanitation, energy and waste water treatment. I was shocked to learn that every 22nd April is observed as as the World Earth Day since 1970! Waoh! A whopping 47 years and the day does not have the clout of other popular days in Nigeria in spite of the overwhelming significance of the earth. I also learnt that an American Senator from Wisconsin, Gayford Nelson first conceived of the World Earth Day when he was worried about the rate of industrialization and the careless attitude of people towards the environment.
Like Visionscape, the Earth Day Network is in the vanguard of the celebration in over 193 countries. I commend Visionscape for marking the Day with children who are the leaders of tomorrow. This is indeed a visionary move that would sensitize the next generation to the need to protect the environment. The auguries are alarming to say the least, our planet earth is reported to be losing over 15 billion trees every year which translates to losing about 5.6 acres of forest every minute! Neglect of the environment is causing severe problems like the depletion of the ozone layer, death of rivers due to dumping of industrial waste and global warming.
Visionscape demonstrated this by teaching the young ones how to plant trees to green the environment in line with the reforestation campaign geared to benefit communities, increase habitat for species and combat climate change . The company stressed the importance of caring and loving the earth passionately.
At the ceremony, Visionscape asked people to join in the effort to safeguard the earth by planting trees, limiting use of vehicles in order to reduce pollution and conserving petrol and switching off lights when not in use in addition to reducing carbon footprints by recycling papers and putting a stop to the use of plastic bags.
The theme of this year’s celebration ‘Environmental and Climate Literacy’ was well articulated by the Visionscape team and one can only hope that the company would sustain the scope of its advocacy for a better environment

The Lagos State Government has adopted a new strategy under the new Solid Waste Management policy encapsulated in the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI) to massively tackle flooding.

Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Babatunde Adejare, who stated this in Alausa at a news conference, said the State Government has perfected plans to implement flood prevention programme through all-year-round cleaning and maintenance of drainage infrastructure.

He said under the CLI, state of the art equipment would be deployed towards cleaning the environment, while in addition to 27, 500 community sanitation workers that would be employed, mechanised street sweeping machinery would also be deployed to major highways across the State.

It would be recalled that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode had signed the new Environmental Management and Protection Law, to give the new policy the legal teeth to function efficiently.

The State Government also assembled a consortium of global leaders in waste management led by Visionscape to manage waste collection and disposal, using ultra-modern facilities while still empowering the Private Sector Participants (PSPs) to play key roles in the waste collection process.

Speaking further on the policy, Adejare said the initiative was in line with the vision of Governor Ambode to make Lagos a clean, secure and more prosperous State with a robust economy built on service, equity and justice.

He added that the initiative had been designed to address the deficiencies in the solid waste management sector, while state of the art equipment would be deployed to protect the environment, human health and social living standards of residents.

Under the initiative, Adejare said the State Government, in partnership with Visionscape, would provide a twice-weekly service with 600 brand new compactors and 900,000 electronically tracked bins, while transfer loading stations/material recovery facilities in Agege, Oshodi and Simpson, as well as waste depots in Mushin, Ogudu and Simpson would be rehabilitated and transformed to world class standards.

He said engineered sanitary landfills would also be constructed, while over 40,000 new dignified jobs would be provided.

He added that the initiative would ultimately go a long way in protecting public health, as well as local and global environment, aside improving the aesthetics of the State through significantly cleaner communities, roads and highways.


"I therefore enjoin Lagosians to embrace the new initiative which is obviously the panacea for delivering efficient and effective management of solid waste in the State with its attendant benefits," Adejare said.

By Awodare Awofisayo

Hitherto , April 22nd of every year meant nothing especial to me apart from being the birthday of three members of my extended family . Last Saturday, April 22nd, 2017 took on a more significant importance with an event I chanced on. Around 10.30am on the fateful day, I was just driving from Falomo towards Lekki via the iconic link bridge when I saw a group of people decked in green and white tshirts with ‘earth day’ and ‘visionscape’ boldly emblazoned on them congregating right inside the Alexander roundabout in Ikoyi. They were assisting about twenty young children to carry a certain task which was not visible to me from afar. This rekindled my curiousity. So I parked to make an enquiry. As I approached the tent, I heard a mother driving past shouting “we have kids too, can we come ?”. A lady retorted “why not!” and the woman in question parked and joined the group.
On joining the group, I was informed that it was the the celebration of the World Earth Day by Visionscape, an international leading environmental utility group providing turnkey solutions in areas of sanitation, energy and waste water treatment. I was shocked to learn that every 22nd April is observed as as the World Earth Day since 1970! Waoh! A whopping 47 years and the day does not have the clout of other popular days in Nigeria in spite of the overwhelming significance of the earth. I also learnt that an American Senator from Wisconsin, Gayford Nelson first conceived of the World Earth Day when he was worried about the rate of industrialization and the careless attitude of people towards the environment.
Like Visionscape, the Earth Day Network is in the vanguard of the celebration in over 193 countries. I commend Visionscape for marking the Day with children who are the leaders of tomorrow. This is indeed a visionary move that would sensitize the next generation to the need to protect the environment. The auguries are alarming to say the least, our planet earth is reported to be losing over 15 billion trees every year which translates to losing about 5.6 acres of forest every minute! Neglect of the environment is causing severe problems like the depletion of the ozone layer, death of rivers due to dumping of industrial waste and global warming.
Visionscape demonstrated this by teaching the young ones how to plant trees to green the environment in line with the reforestation campaign geared to benefit communities, increase habitat for species and combat climate change . The company stressed the importance of caring and loving the earth passionately.
At the ceremony, Visionscape asked people to join in the effort to safeguard the earth by planting trees, limiting use of vehicles in order to reduce pollution and conserving petrol and switching off lights when not in use in addition to reducing carbon footprints by recycling papers and putting a stop to the use of plastic bags.
The theme of this year’s celebration ‘Environmental and Climate Literacy’ was well articulated by the Visionscape team and one can only hope that the company would sustain the scope of its advocacy for a better environment.

Hitherto , April 22nd of every year meant nothing especial to me apart from being the birthday of three members of my extended family . Last Saturday, April 22nd, 2017 took on a more significant importance with an event I chanced on. Around 10.30am on the fateful day, I was just driving from Falomo towards Lekki via the iconic link bridge when I saw a group of people decked in green and white tshirts with ‘earth day’ and ‘visionscape’ boldly emblazoned on them congregating right inside the Alexander roundabout in Ikoyi. They were assisting about twenty young children to carry a certain task which was not visible to me from afar. This rekindled my curiousity. So I parked to make an enquiry. As I approached the tent, I heard a mother driving past shouting “we have kids too, can we come ?”. A lady retorted “why not!” and the woman in question parked and joined the group.
On joining the group, I was informed that it was the the celebration of the World Earth Day by Visionscape, an international leading environmental utility group providing turnkey solutions in areas of sanitation, energy and waste water treatment. I was shocked to learn that every 22nd April is observed as as the World Earth Day since 1970! Waoh! A whopping 47 years and the day does not have the clout of other popular days in Nigeria in spite of the overwhelming significance of the earth. I also learnt that an American Senator from Wisconsin, Gayford Nelson first conceived of the World Earth Day when he was worried about the rate of industrialization and the careless attitude of people towards the environment.
Like Visionscape, the Earth Day Network is in the vanguard of the celebration in over 193 countries. I commend Visionscape for marking the Day with children who are the leaders of tomorrow. This is indeed a visionary move that would sensitize the next generation to the need to protect the environment. The auguries are alarming to say the least, our planet earth is reported to be losing over 15 billion trees every year which translates to losing about 5.6 acres of forest every minute! Neglect of the environment is causing severe problems like the depletion of the ozone layer, death of rivers due to dumping of industrial waste and global warming.
Visionscape demonstrated this by teaching the young ones how to plant trees to green the environment in line with the reforestation campaign geared to benefit communities, increase habitat for species and combat climate change . The company stressed the importance of caring and loving the earth passionately.
At the ceremony, Visionscape asked people to join in the effort to safeguard the earth by planting trees, limiting use of vehicles in order to reduce pollution and conserving petrol and switching off lights when not in use in addition to reducing carbon footprints by recycling papers and putting a stop to the use of plastic bags.
The theme of this year’s celebration ‘Environmental and Climate Literacy’ was well articulated by the Visionscape team and one can only hope that the company would sustain the scope of its advocacy for a better environment.

By Awodare Awofisayo