Waste to Wealth Initiative by FMYD – Funding, Skills Development, and Circular-Economy Opportunities

Job Description

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The Waste to Wealth Initiative is a national intervention designed to create meaningful employment opportunities for young Nigerians by transforming waste materials into productive economic resources.

Driven by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development under the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the programme equips young people with the skills, tools, and support needed to build viable enterprises within the waste-to-wealth value chain. It also aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), climate-change mitigation, environmental protection, and inclusive economic growth.

Programme Benefits and Support

Participants in the Waste to Wealth Initiative may receive:

Specialized Technical Training
Training in waste management, recycling, upcycling, and circular-economy entrepreneurship to equip participants with practical skills for converting waste into marketable products.

Access to Start-up Capital and Business Support
Funding or business-development assistance to establish or scale ventures in recycling, waste processing, upcycled products, renewable energy, and related circular-economy sectors.

Job Creation and Green Employment Pathways
Opportunities in waste collection, material recovery, recycling operations, sustainable production, and circular-economy service delivery.

Environmental and Climate-Action Support
Capacity to adopt and promote eco-friendly practices that reduce waste, lower emissions, and contribute to environmental sustainability.

Integration into a National Waste-Economy Network
Access to a structured ecosystem that formalizes waste-focused businesses into regulated, recognized, and profitable enterprises.

Eligibility Requirements

The programme is open to:

• Young Nigerians with an interest in waste management, recycling, upcycling, renewable energy, or circular-economy enterprises.
• Individuals or small groups willing to undergo training and participate in hands-on practical work, including waste collectors, recyclers, artisans, and emerging eco-entrepreneurs.
• Youth committed to adopting climate-smart and environmentally responsible practices.
• Applicants able to register via the official online portal or other designated application channels.

As global and national priorities continue shifting toward sustainable and circular economic systems, the Waste to Wealth Initiative provides Nigerian youths with a timely platform to build long-term livelihoods while contributing to national development.

Areas of Training

Participants receive practical, sector-specific training across core components of the circular economy:

1. Waste Recycling

Courses include:

• Plastics Recycling
• Paper Recycling
• Wood Recycling
• Metal and Scrap Recovery
• Glass Recycling
• Upscaling and Upcycling Techniques

2. Textiles and Creative Craft (Upcycling)

Courses include:

• Textile Transformation
• Creative Craft and Product Design

3. Energy and Community Renewable Solutions

Courses include:

• Solar Energy Technologies
• Biodegradable Energy Solutions
• Wind Turbine Systems
• Waste-to-Fertilizer and Animal Feed Processing
• Solar Stove Fabrication
• Electric Vehicles and Tricycles

4. Ecopreneurship

Courses include:

• Capacity Building
• Financial Literacy
• Waste Exportation Processes
• Eco Literacy
• Product Trading
• Reuse and Repair Techniques

5. Biomass

Courses include:

• Afforestation and Reforestation Practices

6. Electronic Waste (E-Waste) Management

Courses include:

• Electronic Waste Recycling (e.g., televisions, phones, appliances)
• Electronic Repair and Reuse