The University of Ibadan (UI) has achieved a remarkable milestone as two of its students emerged winners in the “Get Creative with Plastic” Challenge, a part of the French Embassy’s Plastic Free Campus Awareness Initiative.

UI was one of the ten Nigerian universities selected to participate in this initiative, which is funded by the French Embassy Fund (FEF) Project.

The initiative was championed by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, and coordinated through the Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships), Prof. Oluyemisi Bamgbose, SAN, with support from Prof. Peter Olapegba (DVC Administration), Prof. Aderonke M. Baiyeroju (DVC Academics), and the Registrar, Mr. Ganiyu Saliu.

Prof. Aina O. Adeogun of the Department of Zoology served as the focal person for the UI-FEF Campus Wide Initiative.

Working closely with the Students’ Union Executive Committee, Directorate of Public Communication, and Information Technology and Media Services Unit, the team ensured robust student engagement and wide participation across the university community.

The University of Ibadan’s contribution stood out significantly with over 300 students actively participating and more than 100 creative submissions in the Challenge. UI recorded the highest level of engagement among all participating campuses, a feat that can only be from UI as the “First and the Best.”

Due to this extraordinary commitment, the university became the only one among the ten to have two winners in the Challenge: Paul Debbie, a 300-level student of the Department of Environmental Health Science, Faculty of Public Health, in the Music Category; and Adekunle Julius Akorede, a 300-level student of the Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, in the Writing Category.

This recognition underscores the University of Ibadan’s leadership and sustained excellence in addressing plastic pollution and environmental sustainability in Nigeria.