On 14 May 2025, the Youths Enterprise Development and Innovation Society (YEDIS) hosted a capacity-building and empowerment program targeting nearly 100 vulnerable women who own small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Osun State, Nigeria. The training theme was “Environmental Sustainability: Enhancing Waste Management Practices to Promote Business Development.” The program was delivered in Yoruba, the participants’ native language, to facilitate a deeper understanding of the content.
Facilitators from YEDIS provided participants with essential skills in environmental protection, waste management education, water security, and business opportunities tied to waste management. The training covered critical topics such as pollution prevention, emissions reduction, resource conservation, disaster risk reduction, and public health awareness. As part of the initiative, a raffle was conducted, resulting in funding for seven participants to support their respective business initiatives. Furthermore, all attendees were provided with waste bins to assist in environmental protection efforts.
Mrs Grace Alaje, Planning and Logistics Manager at YEDIS and a Science Laboratory Technologist, underscored the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling waste as a catalyst for economic growth. Mr Ranti Ogunrinade, YEDIS Project Coordinator and Business Professional, addressed the risks associated with waste management for businesses and explored the transformative potential within this sector. Additionally, Mrs Mary Adebayo, YEDIS Special Duties Officer and Social Care Expert, emphasised the benefits of maintaining cleanliness and its correlation with the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises. Mr. Ola Timothy, the YEDIS Program Coordinator and Entrepreneurship Professional, oversaw the distribution of gifts and technical services during the event.
In his remarks, Mr. Rafiu Olaore, CEO of YEDIS, encouraged all beneficiaries and participants to apply the skills acquired and judiciously use the resources distributed by YEDIS to advance their businesses. He acknowledged the generous contributions of YEDIS Partnership Manager Miss Anokwute Vivian and YEDIS Diaspora Coordinator Mr Patrick Adeyemi and expressed gratitude to anonymous donors for their financial support.
Representatives of the participants, Mrs. Grace Olaoye and Mrs. Olatunji Bukola, conveyed their appreciation to the YEDIS team for their continued commitment to fostering economic growth, promoting gender inclusivity, and enhancing decent employment opportunities.
Up YEDIS, Innovation.