Press Release | Successful Launch of Abuja Urban Lab Transforms Waste Governance in the City

 

Abuja, December 13, 2023 – In a ground-breaking move towards sustainable urban development, the Nile University, in partnership with the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) co-implementing partner, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), successfully unveiled the Urban Lab initiative to establish an efficient waste management system in the Abuja Municipal Area Council. This initiative also seeks to enhance community awareness about waste issues and promote environmental sustainability through strategic partnerships and innovative waste management solutions.

 

The launch of Urban Lab marked a crucial milestone, bringing key stakeholders like the public sector, informal and formal private sectors, academia, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), professional associations, donor agencies, and traditional institutions to initiate the participatory journey. In addition, the launch also commenced consultations on the challenge of waste governance within the Abuja Municipal Area Council. 

 

Speaking at the event, the Vice Chancellor of Nile University, Prof. Dilli Dogo, said, “The launch of the Abuja Urban Lab signifies a transformative journey towards sustainable waste governance and creates a blueprint for other cities across Nigeria to follow.” 

 

Delivering his keynote address, the Director General of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), Engr Braimah Osilama, stated, “The AEPB is proud to be part of this collaborative effort, as the Urban Lab initiative aligns with our commitment to building a cleaner and greener Abuja.”

 

During the event, participants contributed ideas for developing and implementing a suitable governance framework for the city. The event provided attendees, including media members, government officials, environmental advocates, and the public, the opportunity to contribute towards this goal.

 

The launch successfully catalysed a collective effort towards resilience and environmental sustainability. Key outcomes include initiating actionable insights through the Urban Lab process and setting the foundation for improved waste management.

 

Joshua Garba, Component Lead Enabling Environment for Energy Efficiency Investments at the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, noted, “The collaboration between CoM SSA and Nile University has laid the groundwork for transformative change in waste management practices. We anticipate supporting the implementation of a governance framework for waste management in Abuja.”

 

The success of the Abuja Urban Lab launch sets a positive precedent for collaborative efforts in addressing complex urban challenges and contributes to building a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future for Abuja.

 

CoM SSA is the regional chapter of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM), the largest global initiative of cities addressing climate and energy challenges. This bottom-up initiative encourages cities to voluntarily set and achieve ambitious yet realistic climate and energy targets. As of 2023, the network includes over 360 cities in sub-Saharan Africa.

The initiative is co-funded by the European Union, the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and the Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID), providing in-depth support to cities in 14 countries, including Nigeria. It is jointly implemented by four European Member State Organizations: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID), Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and Expertise France.  

 

BALDEON Frida                                                                   

CoM SSA Communication Officer                                         

Contact email: frida.baldeon @giz.de