Making Good use of our eWaste

By Prince Osuagwu

One of the differences between developed societies and the underdeveloped ones is in the way they apply resources. In most cases, it is not even where they put their funds or on what they expend it. Sometimes it is mainly on how each recognises what constitutes wealth.
While a resource creates wealth for one, it may only constitute health hazzard for the other. Take for instance the issue of eWaste. While this has become a lot of blessing to many developed societies it is only a curse in many parts of Africa, Nigeria inclusive.
In Europe and America, recycling started long ago, building into what has today become a large industry that spins money but Nigeria for instance fails to adapt and only end up contacting chronic and terminal diseases from same source that spins money from others. This does not help the cause of Global Village. Neither does it give a good account of much touted technological transfer between the developed and the under-developed worlds.
But now, the issue is beginning to worry many stakeholders and if this headache continues, perhaps there may be a quicker action. At least experience has shown that the only time speedy policies are put in place is when people in authority begin to get direct negative impact of issues they failed to take action against.
Recently, the Executive Director, Basel Convention Coordinating Centre for the Africa Region, Prof Oladele Osibanjo querried why Africa and particularly Nigeria should leave e-waste to pollute our society, instead of recycling it to generate fund. At 2-Day summit organised by Lagos State Government to sensitise stakeholders on the proper use of e-waste, Osibanjo explained that such un-used or expired electrical electronics appliances such as computers, television set, lap tops, GSM phones amongst others which are either burnt or dumped anywhere can actually generate money if we just apply a little more sense.
For him, the problem of ewaste is global and not perculiar to Africa but that the difference is that the developed world build factories where they are recycled to generate individual, corporate and national income.
He lamented the hazards of burning these waste products adding that the health implications are as gruesome as grandiose the benefits can be. He urged the Federal Government to intensify the battle to get rid of environmental pollution by first investing in factories where e-waste could be recycled for the benefit of all citizenry.