By Collins Azuike
Sustainable Environment Development Initiative (SEDI) is committed to promoting sustainable environmental practices, focusing on organic waste management, waste reduction, and soil health.
The organization works to establish composting facilities, divert organic waste from landfills, and produce nutrient-rich compost as a soil amendment, alongside public awareness campaigns, environmental policy advocacy, and capacity building in local communities. SEDI aims to create a circular economy where waste is turned into a resource.
SEDI is one of the implementing partners of the GAIA-led Multi-Solving Action to Methane Reduction in Nigeria (MAMRN) Project.
In this article, part of the series on the MAMRN project, we spoke with a Tom Aneni, The Executive Director of SEDI about their work as a partner in Otofure, Edo State, for the project.
In this project, several GAIA members are participating in various activities. Can you share some insights into the best practices for collaboration with other organizations in Nigeria?
Successful collaboration with other organizations, particularly in environmental projects like this one, requires clear communication, shared goals, and mutual respect for each organization’s strengths. Regular meetings and collaborative planning sessions ensure alignment and that everyone is working toward common objectives. Leveraging local knowledge and expertise is vital, especially when addressing unique community challenges, and a flexible approach to local contexts is crucial for long-term success. Partnerships, like the one with GAIA, benefit from resource-sharing, whether financial, technical, or knowledge-based and create a more impactful project.
Could you share some perspective on the current waste crisis in Nigeria and how this project aims to address this?
Nigeria faces a major waste management crisis, with a significant proportion of organic waste improperly disposed of in open spaces or landfills, contributing to environmental pollution and health issues. Our project directly addresses this by setting up a composting facility that turns organic waste into valuable compost.
This not only reduces waste sent to landfills but also improves soil health and promotes sustainable agriculture. By focusing on organic waste, we aim to reduce waste’s environmental impact, improve waste management infrastructure, and educate the public on sustainable practices.
Do you have a personal milestone or favourite moment in this project so far?
A personal milestone for us has been establishing the composting facility at Otofure, Edo State, Nigeria, which marks a significant step toward sustainable waste management in the community. Our efforts to raise awareness about the benefits of composting through our social media handles have also been incredibly rewarding. Seeing the public engage with our campaigns and embrace composting has been fulfilling, as it shows growing recognition
of composting as a valuable practice for both waste reduction and soil health improvement.
We have seen these key themes emerge in this project (Organic Waste Management, Infrastructure Development, Waste Picker Integration, Capacity Building and Awareness Raising, Local Government Engagement, National Policy Advocacy and Emissions Monitoring). Could you share experiences (as applicable) on any of these topics within this project so far?
On organic waste management, the composting facility we established can successfully divert organic waste from landfills.
On infrastructure development, we have developed composting infrastructure at a key location in Otofure community, Edo State, designed to handle both small-scale and large-scale organic waste processing.
Waste picker integration has been a priority. We are providing waste pickers with training and resources to engage in the composting process, improving their livelihoods and empowering them as vital stakeholders.
For capacity building and awareness raising, our social media campaigns and training programs have raised awareness about the importance of composting and waste management, engaging communities, businesses, and local authorities to ensure the message reaches a wide audience.
On local government engagement, we are actively working with local governments to promote composting as part of sustainable waste management practices; this collaboration has been instrumental in scaling the project to more communities.
And on national policy advocacy, our team is advocating for the adoption of national policies that encourage organic waste recycling, focusing on laws that incentivize composting and waste diversion from landfills.
What is the path forward for your organization and possible next steps from this project?
Looking ahead, we plan to expand our composting facility to more communities, focusing on integrating waste pickers into the composting process and providing them with training and resources. We will also engage with local and national government officials to promote policy changes that support sustainable waste management.
Our goal is to develop a scalable model that can be replicated in other regions and contribute to nationwide improvements in waste management.
We also aim to build stronger partnerships with businesses to promote compost use in agriculture and landscaping, while continuing our public education and awareness campaigns.
