By HeapNews
The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) has concluded a five-day training programme aimed at teaching women and young people in the riverine Eredo area of Epe how to recycle water hyacinth into usable and marketable products, the agency said.
The workshop, held from Jan. 19 to Jan. 23 in Eredo Local Council Development Area, trained 50 participants to harvest, process and transform the fast-spreading aquatic plant, which often clogs waterways and disrupts fishing and transport.
LASWA said the initiative, organised in partnership with social enterprise Mitimeth, was designed to tackle environmental pollution while creating new income opportunities for communities along Lagos’s waterways.
Participants received hands-on instruction on recycling techniques as well as sessions on safety, entrepreneurship and sustainable environmental practices. At the close of the programme, trainees showcased items made from processed water hyacinth and discussed plans to form cooperatives and small businesses.
Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, Lagos State’s special adviser to the governor on the blue economy, said the programme reflected the state’s push to link environmental protection with job creation.
“Turning a troublesome plant into a source of income aligns with Lagos’s vision for sustainability, employment and inclusive growth,” he said.
The executive chairman of Eredo LCDA, Monsuru Akinloye, welcomed the programme, saying it could both reduce the spread of water hyacinth and equip residents with practical, income-generating skills.
LASWA said more than 450 women and youths in riverine communities across Lagos have been trained through similar programmes and that it plans to expand the initiative statewide.
The agency is responsible for managing Lagos’s inland waterways, including navigation safety, environmental protection and the promotion of water-based economic activities.