Group, others to engage schools, communities on plastic recycling

Seven public schools and three communities in Lagos State are to benefit from a project tagged ‘Clean Our World (COW), aimed at promoting environmental education.

The Japanese chemical company – Sumitomo Chemical and the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) support the project, initiated by Oando Foundation. Sumitomo Chemical is the co-funding partner, while NCF is the technical partner.

Essentially, the initiative will create awareness, empower children and teachers in public primary schools as well as impact the host communities with the knowledge of plastic recycling, waste management and encourage the adoption of eco-conscious lifestyles.

The benefitting schools and communities include, Dele Ajomale Schools Complex (I–IV) Ilasamaja, Metropolitan Primary School, Orile-Iganmu, Olisa Primary School and Methodist Primary School, Mushin and others.

Speaking on the project in Lagos, the Head, Oando Foundation, Mrs. Adekanla Adegoke, said: “The COW project marks a positive expansion of commitment to designing and implementing multi-dimensional education interventions. We believe learning transcends the classroom, encouraging environmental education through the COW project will help pupils understand how their decisions and actions affect the environment, build knowledge and skills necessary to address complex environmental issues”.

She explained that the project would explore different actions to keep the environment healthy and sustainable for the future, stressing that it will also encourages the development of critical and creative thinking skills necessary for enhancing overall learner outcomes.

The General Manager, General Affairs Department, Sumitomo Chemical, Mr. Tomoyuki Hirayama, said the plastic recycling and waste management would contribute to developing a circular system for plastics as one of high-priority and material management issue.

On his part, NCF Director General, Dr. Muhtari Aminu-Kano, warned that the society cannot continue to be reckless in the way wastes generated are handle.

According to him, the menace of improper waste management is huge on the environment with consequences on human health noting that the partnership would help to address this menace using best practices.