In September 2021, the focus of our PARTICIPATE engagement was the ACTUATE project, and more specifically showcasing waste to energy solutions in Africa. On 23rd September our Waste to Energy webinar highlighted the progress of the ACTUATE project in Nigeria and Ghana. Moderated by Dr Akan Odon and supported by the RECIRCULATE team, the webinar featured co-leaders and guest-speakers from Ghana, Nigeria and the UK.
Dr Mike Ajieh (Co-investigator, ACTUATE Project, Nigeria) presented a showcase of the ACTUATE project in Nigeria. He started his presentation with a proposed timeline highlighting the progress of the project from May 2020 until now. He then briefly explained the project concept which translates co-design and co-delivery bio-energy in Ghana and Nigeria. Dr Mike finalised his talk with an overview of the project`s goal and objectives.
Andrew Amenaghawon (ACTUATE co-leader, senior lecturer & head of department, University of Benin, Nigeria) delivered a talk on the Nigerian sub-projects. He presented an overview of the several stakeholder engagements that have been organised with the end-user community such as abattoir operators, secondary schools, undergraduate students, waste managers and small holder farmers. He then concluded his talk by briefly outlining the impact of the project alongside future deployments such as entrepreneurs, SMEs, researchers and rural communities.
Dr Richard Bayitse (Senior research scientist, CSIR-IIR, Ghana) shared a short documentary video to showcase the progress of the ACTUATE project in Ghana. The video demonstrates the concept of the ACTUATE project to accelerate the adoption of circular sanitation systems in Ghana. Key speakers in the video are Dr Francis Boateng Agyenim (Principal investigator, CSIR-IIR, Ghana), Dr Kofi Ampomah Benefo (Lead Scientist, CSIR-IIR, Ghana), Eric Boakye-Danquah (Social Scientist, University of Ghana), Esi Winny Addison (HATOF Foundation), Bennett Akuffo (Project Manager, Green Advocacy, Ghana), Imoro Sulemana (Head Teacher, Umar Hatab Islamic Basic School, Ghana).
