Africa remains one of the most impacted regions of the world in materials and plastic waste pollution. Nigeria, with a population of over 200 million people, is said to generate an estimated 32 million tons of waste annually, of which plastic waste constitutes a significant portion.

One of the few crusaders who have taken the challenge to rid the country of the unattended destructive tendencies of the ticking time bomb by authorities is CEO of VGH Industrial Production, Okafor Chinedu Emmanuel, who is popularly referred to as VGH Boss.

VGH BOSS is an entrepreneur and key figure in the nation’s recycling business, production of nylons and other plastics. Due to the complete absence of governmental support in the sector, the entrepreneur has attained the position of a frontrunner in driving the economy, in the midst of the unfriendly business environment in the country.

VGH BOSS is also chairman of VGH Group, a renowned real estate mogul and owner of VGH Homes Limited, has birthed several innovations that have transformed the recycling industry, which is simply growing as a  result of efforts by the private actors. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), less than 10 percent of plastic waste generated in Nigeria is recycled, with the majority of the waste ending up in landfills or water bodies. However, through effective strategies, the CEO of VGH Industrial Production has ensured the collection of plastic wastes and turned them into usable materials, mitigating the already exacerbated critical waste management challenges, including flooding, soil degradation, and air pollution.

Some aspects of the private sector in the country have enjoyed unprecedented support from the government through friendly policy formulation that has engendered their growth. But the recycling industry, in which Okafor Chinedu Emmanuel has been part of championing over the years, has suffered untold neglect, despite the critical precinct the industry occupies in environmental preservation and fight against climate change in the country.

These are the issues that formed the position of VGH BOSS, who, during a recent industry conference, appealed for government’s support to encourage more players to come into the fast-growing industry. He, among other demands, stressed that infrastructure, grants, tax breaks, subsidies and other incentives will help to take the industry to the next level.

“We need the government’s support to overcome the financial barriers hindering the growth of the recycling sector. Grants, tax breaks, and subsidies would go a long way in encouraging innovation and attracting more businesses to invest in sustainable recycling practices.
“We require state-of-the-art infrastructure to efficiently process and handle recyclable materials,” VGH BOSS said.

Okafor Chinedu Emmanuel is also a major player in Nigeria’s real eatate sector, with VGH Homes Limited completing over four real estate projects in Abuja, Anambra and Lagos State, as well as other parts of the country. The VGH BOSS is a philanthropist and also the founder of VGH Music; a brand he has used to help and promote up-and-coming young artistes in the music industry.