..Launches vocational training for waste workers

By Nnamdi Ojiego

In a show of appreciation and community support, the Glo Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of telecoms giant, Globacom, has feted over 16,000 street sweepers employed by the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) in a special event held to honour their tireless efforts in keeping Lagos clean.

The event, held at LAWMA’s headquarters in Ijora, was designed as a rest day for the sanitation workers, many of whom are often overlooked despite their vital role in maintaining public health and environmental hygiene across the state.

Speaking, Head of Glo Foundation, Jumobi Mofe-Damijo, said: “We are here today for a ‘rest and relaxation’ event for the staff of LAWMA. They are often overlooked, but these are the people that keep our environment clean. Today is about them, to make them feel loved, appreciated, and recognized.”

Mofe-Damijo noted that the gesture was part of Glo’s commitment to giving back to society.

In addition to providing entertainment, music, games, and hearty meals, Glo Foundation also distributed assorted food items and gift packs designed to support each worker’s household for several days.

But the initiative doesn’t end there. In a move aimed at long-term empowerment, the foundation also launched a four-week vocational training program for LAWMA sweepers. The program covers a variety of skills including food processing, pastry-making, fashion designing, digital literacy, bead-making, and other vocational skills.

“At the end of the training, we are not just stopping there. We will also provide tools and starter kits to help them become self-sufficient. It’s about creating lasting value”,  Mofe-Damijo added.

Also speaking, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, lauded the Glo Foundation’s initiative as timely and impactful.

“Every morning, 16,000 sweepers work across 1,000 routes in Lagos to keep the city clean. What Glo has done today is in line with the state government’s vision for public health and environmental safety. This partnership is the kind we hope other corporate bodies will emulate”, he said.

Dr. Gbadegesin emphasized the broader benefits of the sweepers’ daily work, citing cleaner streets as critical to reducing disease outbreaks and boosting economic activity across the metropolis.

Some of the sweepers who benefited from the event shared their joy and gratitude.

“I never expected something like this,” said Olajuwon Ogunyemi, a sweeper in the Agege area. “It feels really good to be appreciated. Most times, we just do our work and go home without anyone noticing.”

Another beneficiary, Sarah Adebanjo, who has worked with LAWMA for over eight years, expressed her delight. “It’s not just the food or the gifts,” she said. “It’s the fact that someone sees us and says, ‘You matter.’ That alone gives me strength.”

Emife Jane, a LAWMA supervisor, described the event as “an amazing thing,” and praised Glo for recognizing the unsung heroes of the city. “It’s not every day that people remember those who clean the streets. Glo has set an example.”

Adding to the chorus of praise was 55-year-old Bilikisu Azeez, a widow and mother of three, who said the vocational training would help her pursue a long-held dream. “I’ve always wanted to learn tailoring, but I couldn’t afford it. Now I can learn and maybe start a small business,” she said with a smile.