The University of Ibadan (UI), Coca-Cola Foundation and other organisations have established partnerships to ensure zero waste management, in line with the Sustainable Development Goal 17.
The institutions have also launched ‘The Green Campus Project’ facilitated by the Statewide Waste and Environmental Education (SWEEP) Foundation at the Trenchard Hall of the premier university, Ibadan.
Recycledge, SWEEP Foundation in conjunction with local partners will mobilise corporate businesses, government agencies and other stakeholders to address the plastic waste challenge in the University of Ibadan and its surrounding communities.
The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF) has provided a grant to support SWEEP Foundation, on their ‘Green Campus Project’, designed to facilitate the implementation of a comprehensive waste management programme across selected university campuses in Nigeria.
The programme will accelerate and improve collection of discarded plastic bottles (PET) leveraging targeted awareness programmes on campus community recycling.
Speaking at the launch, the Director of Public Affairs, the Coca Cola Company, Ms. Nwamaka Onyemelukwe, said Nigerians needs to take action to ensure that after they enjoyed the content of containers, they don’t liter the environment.Onyemelukwe said plastic is not bad but the way it is used causes environmental problems.
She said: “Every package that has been used has a place; it can be re-used. Your waste is a resource. We are interested because we produce beverages. We are known for happiness. The wastes that fill our environment can be re-used and re-cycled to repackage another beverage. 100 per cent of our packaging materials are recyclable. We must pay attention to how waste is collected and re-cycled.
“This is a fundamental approach to change our environment. In the Sustainable developmenrt Goal (SDG) 17, partnership is a very fundamental step in achieving a sustainable goal. Therefore, we can achieve zero waste in Nigeria through this partnership.” She implored the students to take the message to their homes and classrooms, as well as volunteer as recycling ambassadors.
The President, SWEEP Foundation, Phillips Obuesi, reiterated the impact of the programme on the selected universities and surrounding communities.
He said: “University campuses suffer from indiscriminate waste disposal habits of its staff and students, mostly occasioned by low – level awareness and inadequate infrastructures to support waste management across campuses”.
President, Coca-Cola Foundation, Saadia Madsbjerg, said: “We recognise that student communities are critical stakeholders in our broad strategy to preserve and protect our ecosystem. We are proud to support this initiative, which will not only improve the waste value chain of campuses in Nigeria but also help to inspire an entire generation of environmental advocacy.”
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, said the institution would support the project wholeheartedly. Adebowale was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Ezekiel Ayoola who said the choice of UI was apt and instructive.
