By Oluwaferanmi Akinbobola
The University of Ibadan, played host to a one-day workshop aimed at accelerating community awareness on the dangers of indiscriminate plastic waste disposal.
The event, which held at the Lakeside Lecture Theatre, Faculty of Science, was organized by the Basel Convention Coordinating Centre for the African Region (BCCC–Africa).
Prof. Percy Onianwa, Director of BCCC–Africa, explained that the initiative is targeted at final-year students and fresh National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, who can serve as multipliers of the message across Nigeria.
In an interview, he stated that they hope to reach a wide range of audiences through this approach.
“We believe the initiative will be effective, and that’s why we are engaging final-year students and corps members,” he said, adding that “500 finalists from UI and 500 from The Polytechnic, Ibadan, are part of this initiative.”
During the sessions, experts painted pictures of the menace.
Prof. Ipeaiyeda highlighted the impact of plastic waste on streets and water bodies, citing a disturbing incident in Yemetu, Ibadan, where diesel was discovered in a well,a development he linked to human activities.
He urged participants to adopt responsible disposal habits.
Mr. Badejo, in his remarks, emphasized the need for enlightenment.
Sharing a personal experience, he recounted how someone expected him to drop a plastic waste on the ground.
“That shows how normalized littering has become.
People must be sensitized about the dangers, including health hazards,” he noted.
Prof. Onianwa further drew attention to the 2020 International Coastal Cleanup report, which showed that abandoned fishing nets frequently found in the seas pose serious threats to aquatic life.
Offering a local perspective, Mr. Rafiu Akorede from the Oyo State Ministry of Environment, provided tips on managing plastics in Ibadan.
He stressed the enforcement of the polluters-pay principle and mandatory ownership of refuse drums for households as steps being taken by the state government.
The workshop also featured communication perspectives.
Dr. Idika emphasized the importance of tailoring plastic waste campaigns to different audiences, particularly students in secondary schools.
“There is always an entry point to how you communicate,” she said.
Similarly, Dr. Ridwan from the Department of Communication and Language Arts underscored the role of effective messaging in sensitizing communities.
The event concluded with an interactive breakout session where participants created slogans and engaged in a quiz to reinforce the lessons learned.
With young people at the center of the initiative, organizers expressed optimism that the awareness would trickle down to communities across Nigeria, helping to curb one of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.
