The launch of BSF waste-to-wealth Campaign at Oluwo Fish Market Epe

On Friday, December 12, 2025, Oluwo Fish Market was already alive with the familiar rhythm of commerce. Knives flashed as traders gutted tilapia and catfish with practiced precision. Fish scales glinted in the morning sun like tiny mirrors before being swept into growing heaps of intestines, heads, and yesterday’s unsold stock.

Then a loudspeaker crackled to life.

The Zero Waste Ambassadors (ZeWA) had arrived.

Armed with warm smiles, a small public-address system, and a message they believed could transform the market, the ambassadors began speaking in Yoruba and Pidgin English, the languages of the traders. Gradually, more traders gathered to listen while many still working with their hands but now listening attentively to the unfamiliar voices.

Adebowale, one of the ambassadors, opened the campaign by holding up fish intestines and scales. 

“Una dey see wetin dey my hand?” he asked, waving it in the air. “E no be waste o. This thing fit feed Black Soldier Fly, and those flies go turn am to protein wey chickens and fish dey need. Na money dey inside!”

He explained that fish waste; currently dumped, burned, or left to rot, could instead be fed to Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae. Within 10–14 days, the larvae consume the waste, growing fat and rich in protein. These larvae are then harvested and sold as affordable animal feed to poultry, fish, and pig farmers struggling with rising feed costs. What remains after feeding is frass, a nutrient-rich organic fertilizer for local farmers.

“So, dem go buy our fish waste?” one trader asked cautiously.

Simbiat, ZeWA’s secretary, stepped in to clarify. “No be say dem go buy the raw waste as e dey. But if you work with BSF farmers, the larvae wey grow from the waste or the compost wey remain, farmers go buy am!”

She described the circular economy in simple terms: fish market waste feeds BSF larvae; larvae become animal feed; frass becomes fertilizer; income is generated at every stage.

Heads nodded across the crowd. The idea clicked. Many traders had heard of insect farming for poultry and fish feed and were already feeling the pressure of rising feed prices. Suddenly, the concept no longer sounded strange, it sounded practical.

Mariam, another ambassador, then shifted the conversation to environmental impacts. Pointing toward the direction of the Oke Osho dumpsite, she explained that fish waste dumped there produces methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that worsens heat, flooding, and unpredictable rainfall.

For many traders, this was a revelation. They had never connected the waste they discarded daily to the extreme weather now disrupting their businesses and lives.

Adeola followed with a warning about health risks, particularly the burning of plastic waste in and around the market. He explained that the smoke contains toxic chemicals that damage lungs, trigger chronic coughing and asthma, and can lead to cancer over time.

The session ended with an interactive question-and-answer segment that revealed both concern and growing interest.

“How we go store the fish waste before dem come collect am?” traders asked, worried about smell and flies. The ambassadors explained that BSF processing is fast and that waste collection could happen two to three times a week, reducing storage time.

“This Black Soldier Fly no go disturb us for market?” another trader asked. The team reassured them that BSF are not like houseflies. They do not bite, spread disease, enter homes, or contaminate food. In fact, adult BSF do not even eat; they only mate, lay eggs, and die within a few days.

When asked about income, the ambassadors shared current market prices: BSF larvae sell for ₦800–₦1,000 per kilogram, with strong and consistent demand from poultry and fish farmers across Epe and Lagos.

By the time the campaign ended, something fundamental had shifted. Fish waste, once seen only as a smelly nuisance, was now viewed as a valuable resource and a potential source of income.

Recommendations and the Pathway Forward

To sustain the momentum generated by the awareness campaign and translate knowledge into measurable outcomes, a coordinated and structured implementation approach is required. Establish a pilot Black Soldier Fly (BSF) demonstration and training unit at Oluwo Fish Market to provide hands-on learning on waste segregation, larvae rearing, and safe handling practices. This will build confidence among traders and serve as a visible proof of concept for waste-towealth initiatives.

Efficient waste management systems should be introduced through the provision of colour-coded bins and a regular, well-coordinated collection schedule to minimize odour, health risks, and indiscriminate dumping. Strengthening partnerships between traders, BSF farmers, and poultry, fish, and crop producers will help secure consistent markets for BSF larvae and frass, ensuring economic viability and long-term participation.