French embassy honours five Nigerian varsities fighting plastic pollution

The French Embassy has awarded five tertiary institutions in Nigeria for fighting plastic pollution on campuses.

In June, the embassy launched a plastic waste management project worth €753,000 to help universities across Nigeria develop innovative, adaptive, and sustainable project ideas addressing plastic pollution.

The initiative was launched through the French Embassy Fund (FEF) project under the French ministry of Europe and foreign affairs.

Participant researchers were drawn from the Alex Ekwueme Funai University, Ebonyi; Bayero University, Kano; Nile University, Abuja; Covenant University, Ogun; Babcock University, Ogun, University of Jos; Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Osun; University of Lagos; Yaba College of Technology (YabaTech), Lagos; University of Calabar; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; and University of Delta.

The French embassy said five institutions were picked by an independent selection committee for the most commended projects.

The prize remittance reception was held at the embassy in Abuja on Wednesday.

Awarded institutions included OAU, YabaTech, Alex Ekwueme Funai University, the University of Calabar, and the University of Delta.

Chris Miyaki, acting executive secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), said the project and awards highlighted Nigerian varsities’ research strength and capability.

“There is this impression about a decline in the intellectual space affecting Nigerian universities and Nigerian graduates,” Miyaki said.

“At moments like this, we have cause to be proud of our university brand because it’s a huge recognition of the tremendous work that our research has continued to render, sometimes underreported and for me this is a moment of joy.

“It’s a game-changing opportunity to have the French government support research along the specifics of plastic waste disposal.

“It is a contribution to resuscitating the research culture at our universities because research is at the heart of your existence as a university.”

Miyaki said he hopes that more universities would key into the project and support environmental sustainability.