Waste for Gas: Lessons from GTCO on sustainable means of improving lives of women, households

Mama Kayode as she is popularly called, sells pure water in a remote area at Obafemi Owode Local Government Area Ogun State.

The widow with three children could barely cater for herself and her children since she lost her husband in 2022. Her neighbours could testify that she has been living from hand to mouth from her petty pure water business.

One morning, Mama Kayode woke up to the news around town that she could change her business to a better one, if only she could gather some waste plastics littered around her village in exchange for gas cylinders with burners.

‘Could this be true or just a means to get poor women like myself to keep the environment clean’? Mama Kayode had raised doubts about the news.

However, reluctantly, she joined a few other women to get to the task; at least with the satisfaction that she was contributing also contributing in making the environment clean.

Today, Mama Kayode is a proud owner of a gas cylinder and burner and it’s the birth of a new business for her and a reasonable revenue to cater for her family going forward.

Like Mama Kayode, many other women have been alleviated from poverty through the Guaranty Trust Bank Plc’s ‘Waste for Gas’ initiative.

A total number of 3,000 gas cylinders were distributed.

In addition to empowering women, access to clean cooking energy remains a pressing challenge in many underserved communities across Nigeria, where millions still rely on firewood and charcoal for daily cooking. This reliance not only contributes to deforestation but also exposes households—particularly women and children—to harmful indoor air pollution.

Improving outcomes for communities

The ‘Waste for Gas’ project is expected to improve quality of life for households and empower women in underserved communities.

This transformative initiative distributes 3,000 3kg gas cylinders with burners to low-income households in Obafemi Owode Local Government, Mowe, Ogun State.

The Waste for Gas project underscores GTCO’s unwavering commitment to improving outcomes for people and communities. By providing households with gas-powered cooking, the initiative simplifies daily routines, freeing up time for essential activities that support financial resilience.

The initiative also introduced a structured “waste for gas” exchange programme that promotes responsible waste management, fostering a culture of sustainability.

The project has been in two key phases, ensuring that it reaches those most in need. In the first phase, teams from GTCO, in collaboration with local government representatives, conducted door-to-door visits across 12 wards in Obafemi Owode Local Government from Monday to Friday, February 18th – 21st, 2025. These visits helped identify beneficiaries who relied on firewood and charcoal for cooking.

Participating households collected and returned plastic waste in exchange for gas cylinders and burners. In the second phase, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, February 22nd and 23rd, 2025, efforts was shifted to monitoring and increasing adoption of the new cooking method among the beneficiaries.

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Speaking on the initiative, Segun Agbaje, Group Chief Executive Officer of GTCO Plc, stated: “At GTCO, we are committed to driving progress, not just through innovative financial solutions but by creating real impact in the communities where we operate. Waste for Gas is about making life easier for families, giving them more time for what truly matters—whether it’s education, meaningful work, or personal development.

“Beyond this initiative, our goal is to continually evolve sustainable platforms that empower people, strengthen communities, and contribute to socioeconomic progress.”

Agbaje said that as GTCO continues to expand its CSR footprint, the Waste for Gas project serves as a blueprint for future interventions that drive meaningful, long-lasting impact in underserved communities.

Ogun State lauds initiative

Odeyinka Temitayo, Director, Admin & Supply, Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA); who represented Dapo Abiodun, Ogun State Governor described the gesture as laudable.

He disclosed the governor has embarked on various programmes to rid the environment of pollution.

“If other banks can emulate this, Ogun State will be a haven of beauty. I want GTCO to replicate this in other Local Government Area of Ogun State,” he added.

Ogunsola Adesina Lanre, Chairman Obafemi Owode Local Government Area also commended GTCO for the programme, said this is the first time a bank would reach out to the Local Government.

He encourage the bank to establish a branch in the Local Government.

Oba Kolawole Aremu Sowemimo, the Olu of Owode-Egba, however cautioned against selling the gas cookers. He assured, ‘we are going to create gas stations where you can refill at discounted prices. We are meeting with the Chairman of the Local Government concerning this.’

Promoting responsible waste disposal

Apart from empowering women, the initiative also promotes responsible waste disposal.

Oyinade Adegite, Chief Communication Officer, GTCO Plc, said GTCO is committed to improving community well-being by providing access to clean and efficient cooking solutions.

Speaking further, Adegite said GTCO also incorporates a structured waste-for-gas exchange programme, encouraging responsible waste disposal and promoting sustainability.

Iyaloja General Obafemi Owode Local Government, Chief Ganiyat Oyelakin said the beneficiaries must exercise caution while using the gas cookers in order to forestall accidents.

The beneficiaries were also enlightened about the Do’s and Don’ts of using the cooking gas cylinders.

Expressing their gratitude, the beneficiaries commended GTCO for coming to their aid.

One of the beneficiaries Taiwo Suraju said “We are excited. This gesture will make us stop using firewood for cooking.”

Beyond giving back

Oyinade Adegite, GTCO’s Chief Communication Officer,who spoke during the unveil/presentation event, highlighted that the initiative was designed to promote cleaner communities while enhancing household welfare.

According to Adegite, providing access to gas-powered cooking solutions will not only simplify daily routines but also free up time for other productive activities that support financial stability.

She further noted that GTCO conducted thorough assessments by visiting beneficiaries’ homes to ensure that the support reached those who genuinely needed it.

“We visited various households across the local government and were surprised to find that some residents had already gone borrowing from money lenders just to afford gas cylinders, while some others were considering doing the same,” she revealed.

She urged beneficiaries to use the cylinders for their intended purpose and not resell them, adding that GTCO would return for the second phase of the program. The bank’s decision to expand the initiative would depend on how well the items are utilised.