The former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and the National Coordinator, Digital Pearls International, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, has revealed that youth’s investment in IT is crucial for the effective management of plastic waste.

She spoke at the grand finale of the UNDP organized project tagged, ‘Deploying the power of IT-engaged youths in effective plastic use and waste management’ recently held at the Pearls Learning Hub in Abuja.

Mrs. Ibukun disclosed that plastic waste can be effectively managed within the FCT and beyond with IT-driven solutions that youths can come up with.

“We are currently at the Pearls Learning Hub where the UNDP project on IT-engaged youths in effective plastic waste management is taking place. It has been a six-month journey of intense work, getting the youths to see the issues with plastic waste in Nigeria and FCT in particular. T

“These youths have done a lot of research, they have gone to places to gather data and information on what the issues are, and they will proffer IT-based solutions to these challenges.

“The youths gathered here in their various teams have solutions to address this menace on ground. If all these ideas are put together, they will reduce the wrong use of plastic waste in FCT by 50 per cent. We expect that two million people would be adequately sensitized to be aware of what they can do in managing plastic waste.” Adding: “With all we have seen in their presentations, plastic waste would be effectively managed with IT-based solutions and that is very laudable. These youths have developed mobile applications to aid the separation of waste which is very fundamental. I am very impressed at the extent Nigeria youths are thinking in bringing solutions to global problems”, she said.

The event had dignitaries in attendance; some formed the members of the jury who decided which group had the best idea that qualified them to win the grand prize of N1millon.

Speaking to The Guardian before the final results were announced, one of the judges who also was a Deputy Director in the department of Rural Development, Engr. Adebayo Adedeji, disclosed the jury’s expectations from the competing youths when he said: “Today is about engaging our youths and making them effective. This is about using IT to solve plastic waste management issues specifically within the FCT.

“We expect the participants to create awareness within the next six months. We expect their ideas to be viable enough to create employment and it also should be a very user-friendly IT-based solution. As part of the federal government, I assure you these ideas will be looked into.”

Among the 17 teams that competed, only five teams made it to the top. Team 1 went home with the grand prize of N1million.

The representative of the winning group, Ugonabo Christopher, expressed his excitement when he said: “On behalf of my group team 1, I am saying ‘thank you’ to UNDP.

“Thank you to Digital Pearls International for giving us this very rare opportunity to share our ideas with the world. We shall invest the money into helping other youths with information regarding plastic waste management. We are so excited to win.”