Experts engaged in training to fight against lead poisoning, safeguard public health

In a concerted efforts to protect the health of Nigerian masses from a deadly threat of lead poisoning, Resolve to Save Lives, in collaboration with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), has concluded a two-day training programme in Lagos.The training programme which tends to promote public awareness on the danger of lead poisoning also seeks government policy to strengthen campaign against it.The initiative brought together environmental experts, health advocates, laboratory technicians, and government officials with the purpose of equipping them with skills and tools needed to detect and eliminate lead contamination in consumer products, especially cosmetics, toys, and clothing etc.However, the training is an expansion of Nigeria’s efforts to curb exposure to lead, a highly toxic substance prevalent in certain everyday products. While the country has previously focused on lead in paint through partnership with regulatory bodies and NGOs, the programme called a strategic shift towards addressing lead in cosmetics and children’s items.In a media chat, Deputy Director Laboratory Services and Head of Operation, Laboratory, SON, Adetoyi Adeyinka, explained the importance of broadening the scope of awareness and action. He said, “This training targets eliminating lead as a poisonous substance in toys and cosmetic products generally. “We have partnered in the past on lead in paint manufacturing. Now, we are extending this to lead in toys and related products”.“You can see that participants at the training hailed from diverse backgrounds, including federal institutions, the University of Ilorin, private organisations, and various NGOs. Their shared focus was to deepen understanding of the threat posed by lead, locate its sources, and identify measures that can help keep the public safe”.Adeyinka said further that, instead of adopting punitive measures against companies, SON is being proactive by involving stakeholders through training. “There are some red flags in the country and we have seen the signs. We have to quickly be proactive in addressing these issues,” he said. “By training manufacturers and regulators, we inform them of what is expected—especially regarding products with high lead content—and how to eliminate or curb it, before enforcement begins.”One area of particular concern is cosmetics, especially lipsticks and a traditional eye cosmetic popularly known as “tiro,” widely used in parts of Nigeria. These products often contain alarmingly high levels of lead. Adeyinka said that apart from regulatory agencies and businesses, it’s important sensitising the public, especially at the grassroots level, about the health dangers posed by lead.According to him, lead is a poisonous substance and it is very dangerous to children. Adults may be able to withstand it because of their higher resistance levels, but little children do not have that. It can cause developmental issues, affecting growth and brain function. People need to know this”.In addition, Deputy Director, Pollution Control Department, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change in Kano State, Usman Sadik Sulaimon, said, “Before attending the Lagos workshop, I had participated in a similar programme in Kano organised by Resolve to Save Lives. There, experts drew attention to the severe and often overlooked dangers of lead exposure in the state, which is a major industrial hub in Northern Nigeria”.Sulaimon said that Kano is one of the states with a high number of industries, and people are largely unaware of lead poisoning. “Lead poisoning is deadly but preventable. We traced sources to mining sites, textile and tannery factories, and the recycling of lead-acid batteries. Scavengers collect used batteries in residential areas and recycle them openly, exposing families and especially children to toxic fumes.”He said, “Apart from affecting children under age five, lead exposure causes cardiovascular issues, damages kidneys, and can harm unborn children in pregnant women. One of the key solutions is to create more awareness, and we also need to relocate recycling operations away from residential areas and ensure proper waste disposal by industries.”In the same vein, Mirko Steinhage, Director of Spectrometer Technologies, a South African-based company that supplied the portable XRF analysers used in the training, explained the critical role such tools play in early detection and intervention. He conducted sessions on XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence) technology, focusing on its basic operation, safety measures, and application in consumer goods testing.“The most important takeaway is knowing how to safely operate the XRF analysers to test for lead in consumer items”. Lead poisoning is a global concern, particularly in children’s toys, make-up, and clothing. Ingesting lead or inhaling its fumes can be devastating to health.”Executive Director, Resolve to Save Lives Nigeria, Nanlop Ogbureke, said that the organisation’s mission is closely aligned with public health. “We focus on initiatives that support cardiovascular health and epidemic prevention”.“Our Lead Poisoning Prevention Project, which began in April 2025, is part of these efforts.”Ogbureke said, “The current training forms part of a broader national strategy to support government agencies in enforcing laws against lead contamination. We’re working with the Federal Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment, SON, NAFDAC, and state bodies to establish a solid legal framework for lead prevention and elimination”.She said, “Key to that effort is surveillance, identifying which products are contaminated and building evidence to encourage policy reforms. Ogbureke said that the organisation is partnering with the University of Ilorin and SON in a tripartite research initiative to test cosmetics, household items, and other consumer products known to have lead contamination in parts of Nigeria. One outcome of the research will be policy advocacy. We plan to turn our findings into campaigns and behaviour change communication, targeting communities from rural areas to the national level.”Ogbureke highlighted the need for continued awareness campaigns, particularly in communities where illegal mining, industrial pollution, and unsafe recycling practices have posed long-standing risks, such as Zamfara, Lagos, and Kano. “Lead poisoning is preventable, and part of the solution is giving people the right information. The more we know, the safer we are,” she added.With strengthened partnerships across academic, governmental, and civil society platforms, this initiative sets a strong foundation for eliminating lead poisoning, one of the most preventable yet impactful public health challenges in Nigeria today.