By Peter Omopo
In a bid to recognize and reward the efforts of street sweepers in Lagos State, Glo Foundation, in collaboration with the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), held a large-scale empowerment event on Saturday for about 1,000 sweepers across the state.
The event, organized to honour the sweepers for their dedication to keeping Lagos clean, was held under the foundation’s community impact programme. Speaking at the ceremony, Head of Glo Foundation, Jumobi Mofe-Damijo, lauded the workers for their often overlooked contributions to public hygiene and environmental health.
“We recognise the important and thankless jobs that you do all over the state in ensuring that our roads and streets are clean every day,” she said. “You face daily hazards, including reckless drivers and harsh working conditions, yet you persist. Today, we are here to say thank you.”
Mofe-Damijo also announced that the initiative would be extended to other states as part of a broader national effort to empower essential workers and instill a greater sense of belonging and dignity in their roles.
As part of the empowerment, the Glo Foundation plans to provide training in various vocational and digital skills to enhance the sweepers’ income potential. The training will cover areas such as fashion design, jewelry making, fabric embellishment, baking, cake decoration, pastry making, and bread production. Participants will also receive soft skills and entrepreneurship training.
In addition, sweepers will be introduced to digital skills, including digital marketing, social media management, and e-commerce, equipping them with tools to thrive in today’s tech-driven economy.
The initiative was met with enthusiasm from the participants and praised by LAWMA officials, who described it as a model for public-private collaboration in community development.
