By Abiodun Salako

Every year, more than 20 million tonnes of tyres are discarded worldwide. If disposed of at landfill sites, these end-of-life tyres are left to pollute the environment, and if incinerated for energy recovery, large amounts of CO2 and potentially toxic fumes as well will be released.

Burning tyres can greatly affect the environment. The United States Environmental Protection Agency study “Air Emissions from Scrap Tyre Combustion,” shows that emissions from the burning of tyres are a serious threat to human health. It produces toxic chemicals that can remain suspended in the air and can even cause problems with our ozone layer. 

10 million used tyres in Nigeria every year pose a danger to the environment, according to the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI). The body revealed that despite the wealth creation potential of turning waste into meaningful economic products, about 2.5 million tons of tyre wastes are produced annually in Nigeria.

Recycling of used tyres help to reduce waste in society, leaving the environment clean and healthy for everyone. It saves impressive amounts of energy, which ultimately reduces greenhouse gas emissions. There's also upcycling, which  takes waste and creates something new from it in its current state. 

Favour Oluma is changing the climate change narrative around tyres and carbon emissions in Nigeria by upcycling tyres, thereby protecting the environment and potentially saving lives from the harmful effects of tyre burning.

The 500 level Soil Science and Land Management student of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, has been featured in media platforms, foundations and businesses, such as China Global Television Network Africa (CGTN Africa), Arise News, Daily Trust, Geeky Nigeria, the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Access Bank's Coffee and Conversations, and Legit.ng.

Oluma tells Climate Opportunity Podcast (COP) how her unplanned journey into upcycling began when a total lockdown was effected from 30th of March 2020 by the federal government. 

"While I was growing up, I always knew I wanted to do something different, but I wasn't sure what it was. During the lockdown, I wasn't doing anything at home and one day, my dad wanted to throw away some tyres, but I told him not to. I wanted to use the tyres to make something. I began upcycling with those tyres, creating pieces — some of which didn't even make any sense. Eventually, I made something that was great and posted it on social media. After posting it, I got a lot of positive comments and orders. I didn't know there were people doing what I stumbled upon until I posted my first work online. That was when I took it upon myself to explore my love for recycling." 

The Benue state indigene's first pieces made from a worn-out tyre, new steel, and glass blew her up on social media and garnered the attention of celebrities across the globe such as American rapper Meek Mill and AY the Comedian. With more recognition, Oluma was invigorated to perfect her craft and founded  Retyredglam, an upcycling company that employs a resourceful business model that benefits the community by reducing the number of tyres that end up in the streets of Abuja and in incinerators to be burnt. So what does it take to make what she makes? She tells COP.

"I make different types of designs. There are some that I have to use iron, paint or wood. It depends on the type of artwork. But I use wood often. When I started, I used to spend about three to four days finishing a piece because I wasn't really a master at it. Now, I can use just one day to finish a piece because I have most of the needed equipment to make it work."

Amid the distressing lockdown that accounted for thousands of job losses, Oluma mentioned that many people discredited her work when she began, saying she couldn’t have been the creative mind or maker of those upcycled products that require arduous procedures. 

"To be honest, when I started, it wasn't easy. A lot of people focused on my gender and doubted my ability to upcycle tyres. Even in those negative spaces, the positive voices have kept me going strong. My work has gone viral and I want people to know the good I'm doing. The acceptance of tyre upcycling has been good, but some Nigerians tried to discredit the impact of my work especially when I began. Some said it's good to keep tyres in their houses. There was a time a woman told me that what I was doing was bad."

However, despite the discouraging remarks from men and even women, Oluma has forged on to create bigger dreams for Retyredglam. As a young female entrepreneur, Oluma's Retyredglam has made over 20 dozen recycled tyre pieces till date. She said that from 2020 till 2023, she's produced more than 1,000 pieces of recycled and upcycled home decorative pieces and furniture. Her creativity clearly shines through her beautiful works. No wonder customers keep coming back for more.

Retyreglam allows her to utilise her passion to help her community while also creating artistic, functional, and unique furniture. She said her designs cover household products such as dining sets, strolls, chairs, mirrors, wall crafts with tyres. She has two best selling designs: one with ropes and the other with flowers.

Oluma intends to make bigger dents with her eco-friendly recycling business. She has been nominated for awards, such as the 2022 MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) Awards, where she was among the final 22 shortlisted candidates. Nature News also named her the Hero of Environment Actions for Development in 2021.

The awards and spaces Oluma found herself in were inspiring and solidified her cause. However, Oluma's happiest moment in the growth of her craft was meeting with the former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

"Meeting the former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, was one of the best things that ever happened to me. First of all, I didn't even know that the vice president would come. It was at a youth conference that I met him. At the conference, the vice president came up to me, encouraged me and patronised my business. I was super happy that day. That conference pushed me because it gave me more exposure. The vice president patronising me got me more customers."

The Nigerian recycling industry is worth N18 billion with inherent job creation potential, according to the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA). In 5 years, Oluma aims to have a big bite of it, create employment, get a showroom in Lagos and Abuja, and a larger footprint in the Africa tyre recycling industry.

"I should be more established in the next 2 to 5 years. I aim to train youths on tyre upcycling. I should have a showroom in Abuja and Lagos and have a significant footprint in Africa's tyre upcycling industry. I have seen a lot of people that want to partner with me from African countries, so I want to explore that. I also want to collaborate with designers in Nigeria. There are many furniture companies I want to rub shoulders with. One of them is Taeillo, a furniture and lifestyle brand founded by Jumoke Dada. She is one inspiring woman that I love."

As someone who has been undermined due to her gender, Oluma wants women to never hesitate to break the glass ceiling and stereotypes. In her words summarily,  "Passion, Originality and Grit."

This story is formulated from the Climate Opportunity Podcast (COP) hosted by Daniel Oladoja Bright, Nigeria Country Lead, European Climate Foundation (ECF), and a Mandela Washington Fellow.