A Review of Skills Gaps in Africa’s Waste Management Sector: A Case Study of Nigeria and Ghana

Authors

  • Norbert Edomah

    School of Science and Technology, Pan-Atlantic University, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos P.O. Box 73688, Nigeria
  • Abiola

    Institute for Industrial Technology (IIT), Isheri-North Residential Scheme, Lagos P.O. Box 73688, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/jees.v7i3.8055
Received: 12 December 2024 | Revised: 25 December 2024 | Accepted: 27 December 2024 | Published Online: 20 February 2025

Abstract

The waste management sector plays a vital role in environmental sustainability and public health. However, it faces significant challenges due to a multi-dimensional skills gap that hinders the effective management, processing and disposal of waste. Effective waste management requires increasing levels of technical expertise, analytical proficiency, behavioural skills and digital competence. However, one critical point of concern is the lack of requisite technical skills required for the optimal operation and maintenance of equipment and machinery used for waste management and disposal. Using desk research and focus group interviews of stakeholders in Nigeria and Ghana, we analyzed the skills gap in the sector in order to identify the skills that are currently short in supply in both countries. Our study revealed three broad skills need areas: (1) Skill requirements for youth employment in the waste management sector; (2) Machineries, technologies and tools used for waste management; and (3) Technical skills requirements for green waste management. The study concludes with a mapping of technologies and skills in the waste management sector while highlighting the impact of the existing skills deficit on the sector’s effectiveness and how it can be addressed through structured technical training programs for stakeholders in the sector.

Keywords:

Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment

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How to Cite

Edomah, N., & Bamigboye, A. (2025). A Review of Skills Gaps in Africa’s Waste Management Sector: A Case Study of Nigeria and Ghana. Journal of Environmental & Earth Sciences, 7(3), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.30564/jees.v7i3.8055

Issue

Vol. 7 , Iss. 3 (March 2025)

Article Type

Review

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Copyright © 2025 Norbert Edomah, Abiola

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This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.

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