Business
Ministry To Alleviate Poverty Through Waste-To-Wealth Programme
The Federal Ministry of
Science and Technology (FMST) on Thursday said it would embark on a waste-to-wealth programme to alleviate poverty in the nation.
The Director, Environmental Science and Technology, Mr Peter Eweozoh made this known during an interview with our correspondent in Abuja.
According to him, the programme is expected to generate substantial number of direct employments across various sectors and drive the proliferation of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
He said that the programme would have positive impact on large scale industries “and improve the health and livelihood of the people in the domiciled states, thereby alleviating poverty”.
Eweozoh told our correspondent that the waste-to-wealth programme was aimed at implementing a sustainable end-to-end solution for an integrated waste management system through a well-coordinated national plan.
“Efforts will be intensified to improve technology that will guarantee sustainable development of the country through accurate and reliable data collection and development, analysis and documentation.
“These will help to fast track productive decision making processes,” he said.
Eweozoh said that the condition of any country was directly related to its information communication technology competences.
He observed that those with in-depth understanding and knowledge of the utilisation of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) were the controllers of the waste-to-wealth programme around the world. According to Eweozoh, STI has helped to improve the standard of living of many known great nations and in almost all spheres of human efforts.
He said that the ministry was also ready to collaborate with relevant international organisations to fast track the achievement of its mandate.
“Payment of tuition fees for undergraduate/postgraduate studies shall be subject to a maximum limit of $25,000.00 per semester,” the Manual states.
The expansion of international card limits also reflects growing confidence among lenders that foreign exchange liquidity has improved enough to support retail dollar transactions.
Speaking recently at the BusinessDay 14th Annual CEO Forum in Lagos, CBN Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the CBN said buying and selling activities now increasingly determine outcomes in the foreign exchange market, unlike in the past when market participants relied heavily on routine Central Bank interventions.
According to Cardoso, Nigeria’s net foreign exchange reserves have risen from just over $3 billion at the start of the reform programme to more than $40 billion, while gross reserves have climbed to about $52 billion, providing stronger confidence for investors and enabling the Central Bank to reserve interventions for periods of market stress rather than day-to-day liquidity management.
The restoration and expansion of international naira card spending limits are increasingly being seen as one of the clearest signs that the benefits of the CBN’s foreign exchange reforms are beginning to reach households, students and businesses making legitimate cross-border payments.
The Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer, WEC, Dr Angela Wilkinson, disclosed this in a statement, last Thursday.
“Nigeria’s participation comes at a pivotal time as the country seeks to expand energy access, strengthen energy security, accelerate gas development and mobilise the capital required for industrialisation and sustainable economic growth.
“WEC Nigeria will convene leaders from across the energy ecosystem, apply the WEC’s globally recognised Energy Trilemma framework to Nigeria’s unique context, and promote evidence-based dialogue, practical collaboration and informed policymaking.
“It will also ensure that Nigerian and broader African perspectives contribute meaningfully to global energy conversations,” she said.
Wilkinson expressed confidence that Nigeria would play a significant leadership role at the World Energy Congress scheduled for Riyadh in April 2027 and beyond.
The statement also quoted the Chairman of WEC Nigeria, Isa, as describing the country’s participation as an opportunity to deepen national and African leadership within the global energy community through practical solutions tailored to regional development priorities.
He said the platform would promote collaboration across sectors and attract sustainable investments into Nigeria’s energy sector.
The Chief Executive Officer of WEC Nigeria, Wunti, was quoted in the statement as saying that the council would connect leadership, evidence and investment to build a secure, affordable and sustainable energy system.
“This system will be capable of driving economic growth and shared prosperity.”
According to him, the platform will also connect Nigerian institutions and businesses with international knowledge, technology, partnerships and investment opportunities through the World Energy Council’s global network.
Recall that WEC, founded in 1923, is the world’s oldest independent and impartial community of energy leaders and practitioners, advancing informed, collaborative and practical action across the global energy system.