Leveraging innovation for environmental sustainability, a lecture by Chief Modestus Umenzekwe
Hon. Chief Modestus Umenzekwe, Onwa Achina, a great thinker, philosopher, philanthropist; is not only a popular politician of repute, but also a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Party (APC).
But indeed there is a part many do not know about Chief Umenzekwe also widely known as Onwa Achina and Ezechimereze. Onwa means the moon that illuminates his community, Achina, while Ezechimereze on the other hand, is a king whose kingship came from God.
He is a consummate, astute business mogul and a market leader whose wealth of knowledge stands him out among his national and international contemporaries. With over 200 articles including interviews, features, analysis, that border on contemporary economic and political issues published in credible national newspapers, and as guest to several Television stations where he was called upon to speak on current national issues, no wonder, this man of many parts, a nation builder and reservoir of knowledge, was invited as Guest Speaker at a Marathon event tagged ‘Running towards a Cleaner Lagos’. The event was organized by the Advocates for Global Peace Forum International (AGPFI) on 19th October, 2024, at the Trade Fair Complex Market, Lagos State.
Onwa came to the arena well prepared. Many thought that he was just an ordinary businessman coming to speak to traders, but they were not only wowed, they were speechless and flabbergasted when he took them through the whole length and breadth of innovative market environmental sustainability paying close attention to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 6, which deals with sanitation for the world to be a better place.
A onetime member of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) contributing to the design and development of several mass housing estates in Nigeria, Umenzekwe is not a learner in a game he knows so well, for even though he had his paper prepared as the guest speaker, he nevertheless spoke extemporaneously which attracted standing ovation not just from the organisers, but also from the government representatives that were made up of ministries, departments and agencies, security personnel and the conglomeration of audience who continued to applaud for his intellectual sagacity and incomparable intelligent quotient.
His topic ‘The Role of Markets in Keeping our Environment Clean’ was subdivided into four: Market Waste Management Strategies, Best Practices for Reducing Plastic Use; Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Market Operations and Community Engagements and Education Initiatives.
He said that Advocates for Global Peace Forum International remains a force to reckon with in its advocacy for environmental sustainability and health for all and commended them for the Big C Lagos 13 KM Marathon projected as the biggest marathon event in Nigeria.
He said the topic was not only apt considering the need for environmental sustainability, but was also germane because of the impact effect it would have on the Health of the people. He said that the topic aligned with AGPFI’s fantastic objectives that include sensitizing the public on conserving and protecting the ecosystem, promoting sustainable environmental practices that reduce pollution, support climate change mitigation and adaptation effort, educate and engage communities on proper municipal waste disposal and also to foster partnerships and collaborations for ecosystem management.
He spoke about Adem Commercial Complex where he is the leader, he said, “On our part, coming on board since 2004 precisely with close to 6000 traders in the market, 500 plus persons offering auxiliary and logistics services, about 10,000 customers visiting every day, there is no gainsaying it that ADEM Commercial Complex has grown to a very big market with all the facilities, road network, water, power, security under a very effective and efficient administrative system,” Umenzekwe disclosed.” He added that AGPFI’s aims and objectives align with part, if not all that is been done at ADEM Commercial Complex that makes it the primus inter pares in market operations in Lagos.
Umenzekwe also stated that ADEM Commercial Complex takes seriously the issue of environmental sustainability “…and that is the reason we spend annually whopping sums on waste disposal and have rigidly implemented and monitored the Lagos State Thursday Environmental sanitation exercise and making sure that waste generated are properly disposed.”
On Market Waste Management Strategies, he said “We recognize the importance of environmental cleanliness in line with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 6, which is Clean Water and Sanitation, all aimed at making the world a better place. In ADEM we provide mobile waste bins that are strategically positioned at every nook and cranny of the market and which must be emptied into a central waste bin house on a daily basis. This mobile waste bins were procured from the Lagos State Government. This is because they give specification of what you are going to get and we have over 60 waste bins strategically positioned for seamless waste disposal in the market.
“For effective waste management, a refuse basket is a mandatory component of preconditions for acquiring a shop at ADEM, every line in the market is also swept before the commencement of business on daily basis. So every day, it is not tomorrow, these bins must be emptied into the main collection centre. Then three days in a week are mapped out for special sanitation before shops are opened, and there is a fine when you don’t participate and that is the work of the taskforce,” he stated.
Speaking on best practices for reducing plastic use, he first of all explained what plastic pollution is all about. He said it is the accumulation of synthetic plastic products in the environment that reaches an extent where it causes problems for wildlife habitats, ecosystems and human populations.
He disclosed that there was a time plastic was an innovative technology but decries its abuse. “Of course, initially, plastic use was revolutionary. However, by the end of the 20th century, we were seeing plastic pollution span all kinds of environments, including the gutters, walkways, aquatic habitats, bottom of the ocean and high in the mountains. The market environment was mostly hit because of high volume of usage of such materials,” he stated.
Umenzekwe reeled out some shocking statistics to buttress his point of the adverse effect of plastic pollution. He said “In 2016, the World Economic Forum found that 78 million tonnes of plastic is produced annually, and only 14% is recycled, and 32% is leaked into the environment. Furthermore, it takes over 400 years for plastic to decompose, which is an incredibly long time, considering the amount of plastic we need to get rid of.”
On the best means to dispose plastic he stated that one of the trickiest things about plastics is their disposal. “While they were once hailed as a technology, plastics have become a source of concern. Improper disposal has led to many environmental consequences. Understanding how plastic waste disposal works and drawbacks to each method can help you make a disposal choice that’s right for you.
He mentioned landfill as one of them. “It is possible to dispose of plastic in landfills; however, it is the method with the most drawbacks. Landfills take up an incredible amount of space and the potential use of plastics is lost when they are disposed of by landfill. Additionally, in areas with poorly managed dumps, plastic waste like bags and bottles can be blown out into the ocean and waterways. If plastics are allowed to stay in dumps, they will eventually start to decompose and leak pollutants.”
He also spoke about Incineration, Recycling and Biodegradable Plastics, which he said will compost with the help of living organisms. “The potential for biodegradable options is one that could solve many of the waste issues associated with plastics; however, there is some concern that they may release metals as they decompose, among other methods.”
In fact he did greater justice to the subtopic, innovative solutions for sustainable market operations, saying that a market place is a place where you see the good, the bad and the ugly with thousands of complaints coming to your table as a leader. However ADEM, he said, is the first place in Lagos, where global best practices are entrenched for the benefits of not just the business community, but also the customers.
Umenzekwe said that to manage a market as big as ADEM, everything must start with inspiration from God. “When you are inspired to do something, then determination comes in, and once determination comes in, you won’t go back. That is why I said that the existence of this place was driven by inspiration and determination, and when you are determined you call upon God to give you a very formidable team, and when you have a formidable team as I have, the sky will be your starting point in a project of this magnitude.”
For proper understanding of the topic, Umezekwe defined market as a regular gathering of people for the purpose of and sale of goods and services; an arena or area where people gather to exchange goods and services in good faith and in good condition, or a place in which commercial dealings are conducted. He further saw market as any structure that allows buyers and sellers to exchange any type of goods and services. “And while that is going on, the four types of market, from my own concept are involved, perfect competition, monopolistic competition, oligopoly and Monopoly. Some of those things are involved in a market setting. The ability of the executive and the main leader to manage these things for peaceful coexistence is very germane.”
He disclosed that for efficient market operation you need regular power supply. “First we had this vision to get the best of the power supply, the area was in total darkness, noise from generators was hellish, pollution from those generators was a disturbance in the market really. The amount being spent in purchase of fuel was humongous, so that is why we wanted nothing short of the best. Then we set out, from the transformer, the high-tension wires, and then to the distribution of the light into the market. We spent huge sums based on our internally generated Revenue (IGR). At the end of it all ADEM was placed on band A; and ever since we have been having full uninterrupted power supply in the market and we have not defaulted in the payment of our bill as and when due.
“With constant and regular power supply the issue of emissions from generators have become a thing of the past, hence we are achieving environmental sustainability. We also pay huge amount of money every month to maintain this first grade power supply system in our market. And having constant power supply, there is a committee handling it, they are on their toes every second to make sure there is availability of power. So for you to run an effective market system that is environmentally sustainable, for you to make a market clean, this facility must be there.”
Another area of great attention according to the Umenzekwe was the issue of Security. “If you don’t put security in place, criminals will come in and do whatever they like, drop useless materials, litter it everywhere and go. Security must be involved. And in having security you must combine it with what we call conventional guards, by conventional guards I mean, there are individuals and companies that have established security companies registered with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), because we don’t dwell on illegality, we get them involved, and then get the police. The police, whether you like it or not, police, must be at every market to instill discipline. So here we have the police, we have the conventional guards manning here day and night.
Aside having effective communications system, the market deploys the Taskforce to ensure people in the market obey the rules and regulations of the market. “We have about 45 able body committee members who are ready to work at any moment. Most of the issues of fighting in the market; is someone owing you or any disagreement over business transaction, the taskforce committee takes care of them. When there is emergency we rally round and trash it out immediately and every person concerned goes home happy. Sometimes in a month we have up to 60 to 70 cases.
“However, let me say here that we run a mini ‘court’, we have the first court which is the task force no matter the case, the task force will treat it, if you are not satisfied you go on appeal, which is the second stage, if you are not satisfied you now go to the executive, which my table will handle. If you are not satisfied you can now go to the court of competent jurisdiction, and seek redress, but there is freedom of speech.
“Then in doing that, what of transportation, how do you manage transportation? People must be engaged to manage transportation, vehicles coming in, vehicles going out, and those that are parked. While we are doing that on our own we have a committee, we have to attach ourselves with the state transport management system, and in Lagos what we have is LASTMA, so most of the time we relate with LASTMA. You know human beings, some of them are recalcitrant, when we try to control and in order not to take laws into our hand, we engage LASMA to come in and help us,” he stated.
