The Nigerian official Delegation was coordinated and led by the National President of the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN) Dr. Olugbenga Adebola, the responsibility of organising and coordinating the IFAT Africa delegation was bestowed on Dr. Adebola as IFAT Africa Advisory Board member from Nigeria and entire West Africa.
The delegation included various States Government officials, private sector players and professionals from Nigeria. The Association, as an Institutional partner was allocated a complementary booth at Hall 3 of the event centre as an exhibitor.
The tour was characterised by intensed, action and fun-packed activities, which included lots of memorable engagements at the 3 -Day IFAT Africa events and other South Africa Technical and Historical tour of Waste Management facilities and interesting sites:
Day 1 was highly engaging, reconnecting with old friends, colleagues, partners and meeting new and amazing people with lots of visitations to AWAMN booth at the event. Members of the delegation also had meaningful engagements with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), other professionals, facility managers and other exhibitors. The 1st day ended with a well organised Exhibitors & organiser’s Networking. It was a night of good music, meet & greet, good food and drinks.
Day 2: This was the day of AWAMN special plenary session in collaboration with IFAT Africa. The National President of the Association, Dr. Olugbenga Adebola moderated a discurse on a topic “Unlocking sustainable waste management models in Nigeria through Circular Economy” at the Orange Stage.
The key highlights of the plenary session includes; xraying the current waste management practice in Nigeria; the service gaps; the roles of Governments in the area of sustainable policy implementation, regulatory frameworks, enforceable agreements; access to funding; infrastructure deficits and needs for cross-border collaboration, cooperation and partnerships.
The session emphasised Nigeria’s interest and commitment to Redifining Integrated Waste Management practice by adopting Circular Economy Principles. Special thanks to Sophia, Beatrice, Chisten, Katharina and Sandra.
Day 3: The Delegation continued visiting interested exhibitors and interactions with specific OEMs and Consultants.
Earlier in the day, some members of the delegation went on Safari to see the wildlife of South African.
In the afternoon, the National President Dr. Adebola was invited to join another plenary session facilitated by International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) which discussed “Making the case for transitioning from open dumping to sanitary Landfill. The session emphasised the need for sincere commitment on the part of the National, Subnational and Municipal Governments to develop policies that will discourage open waste dumping. The need for Political Will was emphasized to support mass education, public engagements and total enforcement. The effects of open dumping on the environment and human health was also highlighted. The need to encourage and enforce House – to – House waste collection & transportation to MRFs to enhance waste segregation into different waste components and to implement Circular Economy principles was recommended in Africa.
Day 4: The day of site visitations; The Nigerian Delegation joined the Special G20 South Africa 2025 Presidency – G20 Environment & Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) Sub-Priority Chemicals & Waste Management sites visit organised and coordinated by South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries & the Environment (DEFE) in collaboration with the Directorate of Waste Management City of Johannesburg.
This was an in-person all day Technical tour to 3 Waste – to – Energy Facilities in South Africa. The facilities visited are:
- A – Thermal Waste Facility, Tembisa – This is a waste treatment facility that receives and treat Hazardous Wastes and recover energy and other residual products.
- Robinson Deep Waste Management Facility, Johannesburg – This is the biggest active Engineered Landfill in Johannesburg, it receives all waste components except hazardous & medical Wastes. It recovers Biogas (Methane) which is converted to 1 Megawatts of electricity. Other recycling activities is done at the site.
- Bio2Watt Energy Holding – This Facility receives ONLY organic waste and convert it into Electricity, Solid & Liquid fertiliser. The electricity is sold to BMW Facility generating Green Energy and Carbon Credits, while the solid and liquid fertilizers are sold to local farmers for crop production and enhancement.
Day 5: The day of historic City tour: The day started with the visit to FNB Stadium, one of the iconic World Cup Stadium of 2010. Followed with a visit to Soweto township including Vilakazi Street, which is the only street in the world where 2 famous Noble prize winners (Nelson Mandela & Ach. Desmond Tutu) lived. Also visited the 2 famous Museums (Hector Pietersen & Mandela House), an old Coal – to – Energy Facility in Soweto, the delegation had launched at local restaurant. Earlier, the delegates visited Pretoria city too.
The Association is delighted to be one of the Associations/Institutional Partners of IFAT Africa in recognition of the Pivotal role it plays in Integrated Waste Management Sector in Nigeria. It was also a great pleasure to have organized and coordinated the high level National Delegation to this International exhibition & conference as part of Capacity Development, Exposure, Exploration of Newer technologies & Innovations and investments within Waste, Sewage and Water Management.
This has laid a solid foundation that will foster knowledge exchange, International cooperation, collaboration and partnerships, business development in the areas of Integrated waste management, & Circular Economy, Sewage and Water Resources Management in line with the vision and mission of the Association.