The French Embassy in Nigeria, through its Cooperation and Cultural Department, has launched a plastic waste management project to be executed in 13 Nigerian universities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Sebastien Bede, Science and Higher Education Attache, stated this at a news conference on Friday in Abuja.
According to him, the project, under the French Embassy Fund (FEF), is worth €753,000 and is focused on developing innovative and adaptive ideas for reducing plastic waste and enhancing campus sustainable practices.
He said a steering committee has been set up involving, participating universities, representatives of the National Universities Commission, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, and the Ministry of Environment.
Bede said the benefiting universities include the Alex Ekwueme Federal University; Bayero University, Kano, Nile University of Nigeria, Covenant University; Babcock University and the University of Jos.
Others he said, include Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, Yaba College of Technology, University of Calabar, University of Nigeria Nsukka and the University of Delta.
“Plastic waste is a pressing global issue and through this project, we aim to reduce the plastic footprint on Nigerian campuses. It will also inspire a new generation of environmental stewards who can champion the cause for a plastic-free world starting with their immediate communities.
“I also see the opportunity that we organise a study tour in Nigerian universities, French universities, business schools, and engineering schools, to discuss cooperation. Whether it is for plastic recycling or any other areas of cooperation, we are willing to open the cooperation to more universities in Nigeria.
“A key component of this project is sustainability and that is why I said that we have also co-designed a business model for these microplants, and total amount for this project is €753,000,” he said.
Bede added that the components of the project for deployment within the next 18 months include delivering two micro plants co-designed by and for two universities, research initiatives in innovative solutions for sustainable development.
He added that circular economy, qualitative value chain, gender inclusivity, and entrepreneurship to support the research projects, and an exchange programme between Nigerian and French researchers were also parts of the project’s components.
In her remark, Prof Folasade Ogunsola, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, said the project is not just about money but about value delivery, especially through students.
“I think it is with the young ones we can find that and we have to ask them, we have to test whatever hypothesis we have, and that you can only do on the campus in the university, so it’s a lot of work.
“We have already started it at the University of Lagos and we do know that students will do it, but not every student is doing it. Right now, with what we already do, we make about a million from waste but it is ploughed back, and we still have a lot of waste to get rid of.
“So working with the French government and the other French universities, we will be able to up our game, improve the technology, and we’re looking at technology that’s robust that we can use. We looking forward to the micro plans because it is going to make what we do more efficient, we already have things to help with sorting but it is not enough,” she said.
Also, Prof Dilli Dogo, Vice Chancellor, Nile University of Nigeria, said about 70 percent of the component of waste generated in Nigeria is food waste or recyclable organic waste.
Dogo, who was represented by Prof Abdulhameed Mambo, Dean Faculty of Environmental Science, said recyclable waste comprises vapour, metals, as well as plastic which is about 30 per cent.
“If you look at that 30 per cent again, around 10 per cent is made of plastic, and this is what you see outside campuses. But studies carried out in Nigeria found close to 60 per cent of the waste component on campus, while the food component and the other components are quite low,” he said.
The FEF-funded project is an initiative of the French government as part of the global dynamic to fight against plastic pollution.
(NAN)
