The French Embassy has awarded awards to five Nigerian tertiary institutions for combating plastic pollution on campus.
In June, the embassy launched a plastic waste management project worth €753,000 to support universities across Nigeria to develop innovative, adaptable and sustainable project ideas to tackle plastic pollution. Raised.
The initiative was launched through the French Embassy Fund (FEF) project under the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.
The participating researchers were selected from Alex Ekwueme Funai University, Ebonyi. Bayero University, Kano. Nile University, Abuja; Covenant University, Ogun. Babcock University, Ogun, Jos University. Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Osun; University of Lagos; Yaba University of Technology (YabaTech), Lagos; University of Calabar; University of Nigeria, Nsukka. and Delta University.
The French Embassy said five institutions were selected by an independent selection committee as the most admired projects.
The prize remittance was held at the embassy in Abuja on Wednesday.
The award-winning institutions include OAU, YabaTech, Alex Ekwueme Funai University, University of Calabar and Delta University.
The Acting Director-General of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Mr. Chris Miyaki, said the project and the award highlighted the research strength and capabilities of Nigerian universities.
“I have the impression that the decline in the intellectual space is affecting Nigerian universities and Nigerian graduates,” Miyaki said.
“At moments like these, we should be proud of our university brand, as it is in large part due to the tremendous, sometimes under-reported achievements that our research continues to make. This is a moment of joy for me.”
“The French government’s support for detailed research into the treatment of plastic waste is a game-changing opportunity.
“Research is at the heart of who we are as a university, so this will contribute to reviving the university’s research culture.”
Miyagi said he hopes more universities will join the project and support environmental sustainability.
