PAICA targets reform of Africa’s industrial cleaning sector with inclusive master class

By Ayorinde Oluokun\Abuja

The Pan-African Industrial Cleaning Academy (PAICA) last Tuesday successfully completed its first physical Industrial Cleaning Master Class – an unprecedented initiative that brings intellectual direction, standardization, and inclusive practice to Africa’s industrial cleaning sector.

Speaking at the conclusion of the training, Amb Olubunmi Dayo David Fagbuyiro, the founder of PAICA expressed gratitude to God for the privilege to lead the transformative effort of the Africa’s industrial cleaning sector.

“We give all glory to God for enabling us to pioneer this great initiative. We thank the inestimable PAICA team including the faculty and our students who genuinely believed in our capacity. Our mission is to address the critical intellectual gap in Africa’s industrial cleaning industry, introduce standardized practices, provide credible certification, and cultivate a culture of professionalism across the continent. As the saying goes – if you don’t train them, you can’t blame them.”

The training, the first of its kind on the continent, featured full representation of people with disabilities alongside other seasoned cleaning professionals.

Participants engaged in comprehensive courses including, Colour coding protocols for hygiene management, Leadership development in the cleaning industry, Basic Occupational Safety training
Dynamics of effective cleaning processes and Essential cleaning tools and machinery operation.

Fagbuyiro noted that the initiative comes at a critical time for Africa, which is often cited as the world’s dirtiest continent.

He also noted that the industrial cleaning sector holds many promises for Nigeria and Africa in terms of creation of employment, wealth creation and inclusiveness.

The PAICA boss, however, emphasised the importance of training for the full potentials of the sector to be realised.

“According to 2025 data, Chad faces the most polluted air globally and across Africa, while countries including Chad, Ethiopia, Niger, DR Congo, and Nigeria grapple with severe sanitation challenges and inadequate waste management systems. PAICA is calling on cleaning companies, hotels, manufacturers of cleaning solutions, and all industry stakeholders to join the reform movement: We cannot transform the industry without first transforming its practitioners. Together, we can rewrite Africa’s narrative and build a cleaner, safer, more professional industrial cleaning sector that serves our continent’s growing needs,” Fagbuyiro said while calling for other stakeholders to join the initiative.