On 27th April 2026, the Rural Women Energy Security (RUWES) Initiative Nigeria participated in the Inauguration of the Waste Pickers Association of Nigeria (WAPAN) Advisory Council, held at the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Hall, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria. The event brought together a wide range of stakeholders from government institutions, the private sector, academia, civil society organizations, development partners, media, and industry actors within the waste management and circular economy ecosystem to strengthen institutional governance and promote inclusive participation in Nigeria’s evolving circular economy landscape.
The Head of Secretariat of the Rural Women Energy Security (RUWES) Initiative Nigeria, Mrs. Jumaima Ella, delivered a goodwill message as a special guest of honour. In her remarks, she drew attention to the lived realities of waste pickers, particularly the absence of occupational safety, lack of formal recognition, and unstable income streams. She emphasized that waste pickers are not merely informal workers but essential contributors to environmental protection and the circular economy. She further stressed the need for structured policy frameworks that recognize their contributions and provide sustainable livelihood pathways. She noted that RUWES, through its Waste to Wealth Initiative, is already empowering rural women by engaging them in plastic waste collection and recycling activities that convert waste into income-generating opportunities, thereby supporting both environmental sustainability and women’s economic empowerment. She stated that waste pickers “turn waste into wealth” and called for policy recognition to match this contribution.
