By IndyPress News Desk
Two undergraduates from the University of Ibadan have emerged winners in the ‘Get Creative With Plastic Challenge’, a campaign by the French Embassy’s Plastic Free Campus Awareness Initiative.
Paul Debbie, a 300 Level student of the Department of Environmental Health Science, Faculty of Public Health, who featured in the music category, and Adekunle Julius Akorede, a 300 Level student of the Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, in the writing category, were among a shortlist of ten overall winners.
The University of Ibadan was one of only ten Nigerian universities selected to participate in this initiative, funded by the French Embassy Fund (FEF) Project.
A new release published on the University’s website stated that the feat was championed by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. K. O. Adebowale, and coordinated through the Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships), Prof. Oluyemisi Bamgbose, with support from Prof. P. O. Olapegba (DVC Administration), Prof. Aderonke M. Baiyeroju (DVC Academics), and the Registrar, Mr. G. O. Saliu.
“Prof. Aina O. Adeogun of the Department of Zoology served as the Focal Person for the UI-FEF Campus Wide Initiative. Working closely with the Students’ Union Executive Committee, Public Relations Unit, and ITEMs Unit, the team ensured robust student engagement and wide participation across the university community.”
According to the release, “University of Ibadan contributions stood out significantly with over 300 students actively participating and more than 100 creative submissions in the Challenge. UI recorded the highest level of engagement among all participating campuses, a feat that can only be from UI as the first and best”.
The French Embassy in Nigeria, through its Cooperation and Cultural Department, had in June 2024, launched a plastic waste management project worth €753,000.
The initiative, under the French Embassy Fund (FEF), was geared towards developing innovative or adaptive ideas for reducing plastic waste, while also fostering sustainable practices in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
Other participating institutions in the initiative were Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Bayero University Kano, Nile University of Nigeria, Covenant University, Babcock University, the University of Jos, Obafemi Awolowo University, the University of Lagos, Yaba College of Technology, the University of Calabar, the University of Nigeria Nsukka, and the University of Delta.
