Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency

At LASEPA, he continued his career with a change of cadre as a Scientific Officer (GL 08) in 1996, having graduated in Biochemistry. He worked as Analyst and Laboratory Manager, Environmental Monitoring Officer, and of course a researcher. He has indeed cut his teeth in environmental management, pollution control and successfully managed different tasks.

On the 9th November, 1966 at Ebute-Meta, Lagos Mainland Local Government, an unknown Environmental Scientist was born to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Adebodun-Toplonu of Yeketome- Badagry. He had his elementary education at the Apostolic Primary School, Ebute-Meta and later attended Badagry Grammar School for his secondary education.

Mr. Adebodun-Toplonu, Sewanu obtained his Bachelor of Science (B. Sc) degree in Biochemistry from the State-owned Lagos State University, Ojo in 1995. He also holds a Master of Science (M. Sc) in Environmental Resource Management (ERM) from the same University in the year 2000.

Career

He started his career as a Technical Assistant (GL 03) in 1986 with the Ministry of Works and redeployed in 1987 as one of the pioneers in the Department of Sewage and Water of the then Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning (MEPP). Adebodun-Toplonu was privileged to be among the few officers that transformed the Pollution Control Laboratory to a full Department which later metamorphosed to the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) in the same year 1996.

At LASEPA, he continued his career with a change of cadre as a Scientific Officer (GL 08) in 1996, having graduated in Biochemistry. He worked as Analyst and Laboratory Manager, Environmental Monitoring Officer, and of course a researcher. He has indeed cut his teeth in environmental management, pollution control and successfully managed different tasks.

As he progressed in his career, he served in many other areas of competence with outstanding contributions to the State for a sustainable development. Among his feat are:
- Emergency Response Unit (Department of Hazardous Materials Mgt–HMM);
- Head of Unit, Data Management Unit;
- Integrated Monitoring Initiative (to reduce cost, duplication of duties and multiple compliance monitoring visits).

Currently, as an Assistant Director, he heads the Agency’s Office of Research and Development (oRD).

Training

He has been trained extensively, both locally and internationally in the global trends of environmental management among which are:

- Sustainable Community (Helsinki, Finland – 2007);
- Strategic Environmental Assessment – SEA (World Bank Training Institute, 2008);
- Safety Net Core (World Bank Training Institute: Washington DC., USA. 2009);
- Industrial and Hazardous Waste Management (UAE, 2009);
- Understanding Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Potential (Kenya, 2010);
- Waste Management Conference (Oxford, UK 2010);
- Capacity Building for Disaster Preparedness: Damage and Loss Assessment (World Bank, Ibadan 2011);
- Developing Excellent Customer Service Delivery (LEARN, Lagos 2012);
- Strategic Planning Meeting of the United Nations Environmental Programmes /Global Programme of Action (UNEP-GPA) on Wastewater Management (Nairobi 2009);
- Green Growth in Africa: Concept, tools and strategies for building Greener Economics and sustainable Future. ( Organisation for Economic and Cooperative Development-OECD, Lusaka, Zambia, 2013);
- Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Green Economy, OECD; Lusaka ; Zambia, 2013);
- UN Water and Wastewater Taskforce Consultation on Post-2015 and Water Quality Target Setting and Monitoring (Nairobi, 2013).

Among others, Adebodun-Toplonu has been involved in the following environmental projects:
- Sawdust Utilization as Biomass in the State;
- Improving Wastewater Management and Ecological Sanitation (ECOSan) “waterless toilet” for Water and Sanitation.

Fellowships

His professional fellowships include the following:
- UNEP/GPA Capacity Building partnership: Trans-Sea Coast Programme in ACP Countries;
- Mentor, Sustainable Communities;
- Member, Environmental Investigator: Global Inventory Project;
- Member, Nigerian Environmental Society (NES);
- Member, Waste Management Society of Nigeria (WAMASON);
- Member, Nigerian environmental Resources Manager;
- Member, World Bank Environmental Safeguard Specialist (LMDGP, Lagos State).

He is a facilitator and instructor of repute who has delivered several papers, articles, seminars and workshops. This has earned him a National Instructor of the UNEP/GPA on the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities.

Research Works

Mr. Adebodun-Toplonu’s research works include:
- Global Inventory Project (GIP)
- CDM Project Activity to Reduce GHG Emission from the Disposal of Sawdust from Sawmills in Lagos State;
- Methane-2-Market Landfill Outreach Programme in Lagos State.

He co-authored other publications (published and unpublished) among which are;
- Land Management and Marine Pollution in Coastal Cities: Selected Case Studies in Nigeria and West Africa; and