CODAF urges universities to combat plastic pollution

The Community Development Advocacy Foundation (CODAF), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), on Monday, urged university authorities to fight seriously against the pressing challenges of plastic pollution, particularly the scourge of single-use plastics.

Executive Director, CODAF, Mr. Richard Benin, gave the directive at the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE), during the launch of the Zero Waste Campus Project, put together by the NGO.

He said there was a need for tertiary institutions to create an ecosystem where responsible consumption, waste reduction, and recycling are given top priority.

“Today, we are starting a journey that will change the world and lead to sustainability, that empowers our university community to take meaningful action against the pressing challenges of plastic pollution, particularly the scourge of single-use plastics.

“It may interest you to know that the Federal University of Petroleum Resources is the first institution in Nigeria to kick-start this project, and it is imperative to put in our best to make this institution the first Zero Waste Varsity in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

“It is our duty as a community of thinkers and researchers to set an example by demonstrating values and principles of sustainability and responsibility.

“The Zero Waste Campus Project is a comprehensive strategy to promote a sustainable culture on our campuses, not only reducing plastic waste. Our goal is to establish an ecosystem where responsible consumption, waste reduction, and recycling/composting are given top priority,” he explained.

Also speaking, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, stressed that the university is a bedrock of knowledge that finds solutions, especially to environmental problems, and we all know the effect of improper waste management.

He added, “The University, through the Center for Waste Management, thought it necessary to collaborate with our partners to initiate this project and to remove waste from the university and convert waste to wealth for the betterment of society.”

The VC added that a lot of contributions are from our knowledge to better the university campus and extend the same to the larger society.

“We are missing a knowledge gap in this country in terms of sustainability. We expect to see people with BScs in Animal Science, which is too wide. We intend to bring in the waste to a very low level, like a Post Graduate Diploma in Waste Management and Technology,” he said.

Others who spoke at the event were Dr. Akinyemi Ogunkeyede, and Weyinmi Okotie of the Clean Energy Campaigner, GAIA Africa, amongst others.