The dedicated sweepers of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA)—men and women who have spent years keeping our streets clean—stepped into classrooms and workshops instead of their usual routes.

They weren’t there to tidy up this time; they were there to learn.

This was the first phase of Glo Skillbridge, a transformative program powered by the Glo Foundation that set out to give these everyday heroes new tools for their futures.

From bead making to baking, fashion design to digital literacy, these sweepers began a four-week intensive course that could change their lives forever.

The vision for Glo Skillbridge initiative was unveiled recently at a special celebration honouring LAWMA staff.

Glo Foundation recognized that empowering sweepers with additional skills would not only improve their livelihoods but also help them pursue other income streams and close financial gaps. And so, last week, the journey officially began.

Glo Skillbridge: A New Pathway to Empowerment

At dedicated training centers across Lagos, around 150 selected sweepers dived into their lessons with enthusiasm.

The energy was palpable at Yetroslane Fashion Academy in Gbagada, where hands that once wielded brooms now threaded beads into beautiful designs.

Within just three days, some trainees like Amusat Mopelola Airat and Liadi Fatimoh were proudly showing off their first handmade accessories — smiles lighting up their faces.

A similar sense of pride and progress was evident at Bakery Initiatives in Yaba. Mrs. Busari Adebanke Busayo, a LAWMA supervisor also participating in the baking class, could hardly contain her excitement.

“This will be of huge benefit to me and my family,” she said. “I’ve learned how to measure flour for different kinds of baked goods and much more!”

Beyond the Streets and Into the Digital Age

And the learning wasn’t limited to traditional crafts. In Ikorodu, Mr. Williams Oladipupo joined other trainees at ALX Costain to master digital skills.

“This will help me in my personal business and even help me guide my children into coding,” he explained, his hopes for the future visibly bright.

Twenty-two-year-old Miss Udoh Blessing Endurance Francis echoed that same optimism.

“In today’s world, digital literacy is so important. I’m so thankful for this chance to grow,” she said.

A Future Reimagined

The Glo Foundation expressed joy at the progress so far, praising the commitment of trainers and trainees alike. The four-week course will conclude in July, but for these LAWMA sweepers, this is just the beginning.

With every bead threaded, every loaf baked, and every keystroke learned, these hardworking men and women are not just sweeping up after the city—they’re sweeping away the limitations of yesterday and paving their own path toward a more hopeful tomorrow.

Apart from treating the sweepers to great fun, music, games, food, and bonding activities, aimed at reducing stress and promoting the health and wellness of the workers, the Foundation also promised a four-week skills acquisition training for the workers or their dependents in bead making, barbing, fashion design, digital skills and more, to equip them with permanent vocations.

Mrs. Jumobi Mofe-Damijo, head of Glo Foundation, explained that the Foundation decided to honour the cleaners with a Rest and Relaxation event to express gratitude to them for the important work they do daily, event at great danger to their lives on roads across the state.

She noted that the effort of Glo Foundation in this regard would also extend to other states across the country so as to renew a sense of belonging among those who are doing critical jobs across the country.

“We recognize the important and thankless jobs that you do all over the state in ensuring that our roads and streets are clean every day. We recognize the hazards you face from drivers who don’t appreciate you and are at times impatient while you are by the roadside sweeping. It is the reason why we are here today to let you know how much we value you and your huge contributions to keeping Lagos clean on a continuous basis,” she added.

She also disclosed that there were empowerment and skills acquisition programmes planned for the sweepers which will be held in the following months.

They include Fashion Skills (Fashion Design, jewelry making, Fabric Embellishment & Beading); Baking skills: (Basic cake and decoration, Fried and baked pastry, Bread making, soft skills and Entrepreneurship class); Digital Skills (Digital marketing, social media management, and e-commerce).

Speaking at the event, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, the managing director/CEO of LAWMA, lauded the initiative as a well thought-out idea, to shield the workers from health risks and boost their wellness status.

According to him:

“This gesture falls squarely within the frame of the THEMES+ agenda of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Administration, which prioritizes health and wellness of the people. No doubt that we are used to the culture of working round the clock, and hardly finding the time for intentional rest, during which to recuperate and rejuvenate our tired minds and bodies, to reduce stress and prevent health risks. This much needed occasional relief is at the heart of today’s event. And we thank the Glo Foundation for the kind gesture and encouragement”.

The LAWMA boss thanked the foundation for its planned skill acquisition programme for some sanitation workers, aimed at equipping them for financial stability.

“As the saying goes, when you teach a man to fish, you have succeeded in feeding him for the rest of his life. That is exactly what Glo Foundation is set to achieve with that programme, and we are eternally grateful for the kind gesture”, he noted.

Some sanitation workers expressed heartfelt gratitude to Glo Foundation for organizing the event, promising to continue their diligent work to keep Lagos State clean.

“It’s been a while since I have had this much fun, I am truly grateful to LAWMA and the Glo Foundation for organizing this amazing event. I am looking forward to enjoying every moment of it,” said Iyabo Joseph.

Another sweeper, Lateefat Alabi said:

“I am very happy today. I appreciate our Glo Foundation and LAWMA for this event. This will motivate me to keep doing my job diligently always”.

Other highlights of the event included dance competition, raffle draw, and gift presentation, where two sweepers won a microwave and a grinding machine, bringing joy to the winners.

In attendance were LAWMA management staff, the Bobakeye of Ijora, Iganmu & Apapa kingdom, Prince Adekemi Ojora, and several Glo Foundation officials, who engaged directly with the workers and freely shared in the fun and pageantry.

As the sun slowly set and the music wound down, there was a lingering sense of fun and humour, suggesting that the event was actually more than just a corporate gesture — it was a statement that every worker matters.

It was a good opportunity for the sweepers to be celebrated and be seen beyond the orange uniforms and daily street sweeping schedules.

Photos from the event:

Packages of food and household items including Rice, Garri, Spaghetti, noodles, tomato paste, tooth brushes, sardines, salt, vegetable oil, bread and seasoning cubes were distributed to them.

Two Saturdays ago, Glo Foundation, the social responsibility arm of Globacom, was in Bariga where it shared food and other household items to thousands of other vulnerable members of the community.

At Ikota, Globacom officials presented the items to the beneficiaries, the majority of whom were women, at a ceremony held within the neighbourhood.

Thousands of vulnerable women and children had assembled at the New Generation Baptist School in Ikota as early as 7 a.m. to await the start of the distribution.

Before the gifts were distributed, Jumobi Mofe-Damijo, Globacom’s head of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), welcomed the recipients and reaffirmed the company’s dedication to aiding the underprivileged in the society.

She pointed out that helping the most disadvantaged members of society nationwide was one of the Foundation’s goals.

“Giving brings joy and smiles to the faces of the beneficiaries as we have seen here today. It also makes us happy that we are able to do something to touch the lives of others in a highly interdependent world,” she noted, adding that the Foundation was working on other projects that would impact various segments across the country.

At the occasion, the beneficiaries, who were mostly women, expressed their happiness and gratitude to Glo by singing and dancing. Some of them who expressed their opinions were happy that they were able to benefit from the gesture and prayed that Globacom would continue to thrive.

The recipients were ecstatic and unable to control their excitement. After getting their food gifts, a few of them spoke up and thanked and prayed for Glo for showing their community such love and concern.

Christina Itoro, an Akwa Ibom indigene, who operates a POS business within the community, expressed happiness at the content of the package. “When I opened the carton and saw the content, I was so excited. May God bless the company and the staff,” she said.

For Godwin Mary, who sells Kunu drink, Globacom has come to her aid at a time that her business was crumbling. The native of Benue State thanked Globacom for remembering her and other women in the Ikate neighborhood.

On her part, Sarah Oliseh, who is a housewife, said: “I am very happy and so excited getting this from Globacom. It will definitely go a long way to help me and my family”.

The event marked the beginning of a nationwide food drive by Glo Foundation, set to support hundreds of thousands of Nigerians across several states.

The recipients, made up of mostly women received food pack containing essential items, including rice, garri, spaghetti, noodles, tomato paste, toothbrushes, sardines, salt, vegetable oil, and seasoning cubes in a carnival like atmosphere filled with songs and dance of joy.

Jumobi Mofe-Damijo, head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Globacom, emphasized the Foundation’s commitment to empowering families through this initiative.

She explained that the Foundation would embark upon a series of intervention projects that would impact different sectors positively in line with its vision of empowerment and caring for the underprivileged.

The event was met with joy and appreciation from the beneficiaries, who praised Glo Foundation for its thoughtful intervention.

Beneficiaries, including Abiola Oladunjoye, Amarachi Peter, and Eunice Kehinde, expressed gratitude for the food packs, citing them as a divine provision and a relief during difficult times.

Abiola Oladunjoye said,

“I really appreciate. May the Almighty continue to protect the company and may it continue to grow. I pray for more success for you all and the company itself for remembering us here”. On her part, Eunice Kehinde, a Hairdresser commended Glo Foundation for considering the community in the food drive initiative. She said, “It is not easy for my family to feed these days. With this food pack from Glo, we are sure of what to eat for some weeks”.

Executive Director of Lagos Food Bank Initiative, Michael Sunbola, commended Globacom‘s investment in the food drive and urged other corporate bodies to join the initiative to support the underprivileged.

Next week Saturday, the Glo Foundation train will move to another community in Lagos, continuing its mission to bring relief and support to Nigerians in need.