A multinational company, Coca-Cola, in partnership with Recycledge, a social enterprise aimed at ensuring an eco-friendly atmosphere through waste recycling, SWEEP, Junior Chamber International (JCI), and the University of Ibadan Students’ Union, among others, has pledged its commitment to promoting healthy waste management and recycling on UI campus.
The aforementioned organisations, on Wednesday, launched ‘The Green Campus Project’, UI Challenge, aimed at collecting waste across the university for recycling.
The challenge is to see faculties in the University compete by collecting plastic waste in waste receptacles that have been provided to every faculty. The amount of plastic waste collected would determine the winners and the top 3 would be awarded.
The Director of Public Affairs, Coca-Cola, Nwamaka Onyemelukwe while speaking at the event which was held at Trenchard Hall, tasked every member of the university community to partake in the environmental sanitation drive of picking up every bottle and depositing it in a receptacle for recycling.
Onyemelukwe delivered the keynote address themed ‘The Role of Youths in Environment Sustainability.’
She emphasized how significant the contributions of youths are in achieving a sustainable environment. She noted the youths can influence their environment which includes the main campus and communities surrounding UI.
“The waste is another person’s wealth. There are three recycling plants in Nigeria. And South-Africa has already achieved a 100% recycling system for water and beverage bottles. Nigeria is still lagging behind,” She explained.
An innovation aimed at digitising waste collection in Africa, known as ‘Trashcoin’, was also introduced at the event.
The official launch of the receptacles and other pieces of equipment was done by the Dean of students, Professor Kete Abiona, representing the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Adebowale; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), and the Students Union president, Adewole Adeyinka, Nwamaka Onyemelukwe and other partners including SWEEP foundation, Recycledge, Community Agenda for Peace, Urban Waste Dynamics Limited, Sustainable Development Goals Student Hub, Junior Chamber International UI, Council of Faculty Presidents UI, UI Students Union, and the University of Ibadan
