"Guardians of Gaia: The Unseen Eco-Warriors" is a vivid exploration of the unsung heroes of our planet - the Scavengers. These individuals, often overlooked and stigmatized are the frontline soldiers in our battle against climate change. Their battlefield? The streets, gutters, and landfills of their cities in Africa, tirelessly work to salvage what society discards.

Each year, Nigeria alone generates 32 million tonnes of waste, with a staggering 90% ending up in landfills, incinerated, or illegally dumped. This waste contributes significantly to methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas. The Scavengers, however, strive to reduce this impact of just recycling 10% of the waste by going into every corner of the community majorly the landfill, a task often unappreciated due to societal biases.

I am exploring the Olusosun Landfill in Lagos, Nigeria, the largest in Africa, which claims over 40 acres of land and at least 10,000 tons or more are received daily with over 12,000 scavengers living and working there, though many of them are migrants from northern Nigeria and neighbouring countries of Niger, and Chad.

Through intimate visual documentation, I delve into their daily lives, exploring the socio-economic and political aspects of their work and living conditions. Earning a meagre #1000-5000 naira ($1-$5) per day, these scavengers are more than just waste collectors, they are the ‘Guardians of Gaia’ our earth's protectors, deserving of recognition and respect.

This project aims to showcase their crucial role, humanize their experiences, challenge the discrimination they face and acknowledge these eco-warriors as the saviours they truly are.