The Waste Pickers Association of Nigeria (WAPAN) and Recyclers Association of Nigeria (RAN) have strengthened Nigeria’s circular economy drive with a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at improving recovery coordination, recognising informal workers and expanding women’s participation in recycling.
The agreement was signed during a Gender and Inclusion Summit 2026 (GS-26) side event convened by the Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) in Abuja.
WAPAN National President, Comrade Salisu Ali Yarima, and the National Secretary signed for the association, while RAN was represented by its Vice President and Secretary.
The signing was witnessed by Mrs Esther Chibueyin Fagbo, Nigeria National Plastic Action Partnership Manager.
The partnership will support collaboration among waste pickers, aggregators and recyclers, improved data and traceability, recovery verification, and stronger engagement with government and industry.
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The partnership reflects a development push to make environmental action inclusive, create livelihoods, strengthen accountability and ensure women benefit from changing production and consumption patterns nationwide. The initiative formed part of GS-26, themed, “Agenda to Action: Making Innovations Count for the Last Mile.”
Also at the summit, the Women in Plastic Innovation Challenge (WiPIC) spotlighted women-led solutions addressing plastic waste through circularity and substitution innovations.
Thirty businesses received pitch training, 12 advanced, and four finalists pitched live before proceeding to a Deal Room with investors and partners.
Vivian Maduekwe of eCycle Sustainability Solutions Ltd, Abuja, presented a gamified digital learning model teaching children aged six to 12 responsible plastic habits and linking schools with plastic collection and recycling initiatives.
Nimota Ogunyemi of Climate Alpha Technologies, Lagos, presented a circular economy model transforming plastic waste into market-ready products while creating income opportunities for women and youth.
Following a rigorous pitch, both innovators recorded the same score and received 750,000 naira each.
The summit also recognised research through the GS-26 Academic Abstract Contest where Dorah Tafar emerged first, Seun Okediran second, while Mabum Kwasen Isaac placed third.
Speaking with Voice of Nigeria, Mabum Kwasen Isaac , a Policy and Research Writer at the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), said his research examined digital democracy, rule of law and Nigeria’s digital regulatory framework.
“My abstract was about digital democracy and how it affects rule of law in Nigeria and also the Cyber Crimes Act. So that was Cyber Crimes Act and Nigerian Data Protection, NIMC, all these acts, that’s what I actually investigated and I found out that the Nigerian government, the laws are more reactive than proactive in a sense that it’s after the issues that are concerning digital, shall I say, laws happen that the Nigerian government goes on to make policies about it.”
On Section 24 of the Cybercrimes Act, amended in 2024, he said: “For the Cyber Crimes Act, the section 24 which was amended in 2024, it was found out that it led to people having fear .”
Beyond digital governance, he linked reliable population data to effective development planning, calling for an updated national census to guide investments in healthcare, education and social infrastructure.
His recognition, he said, was also an encouragement to young Nigerians to pursue research and their aspirations.
“It means a lot because at first, I just submitted the abstract out of love of research but I didn’t know it was actually going to lead to me winning and this serves as an encouragement and to all young people, be delusional with your dreams” he said.
