By Our Reporters
The Vice chancellor, Igbinedion University, Prof Lawrence Ezemonye has called on Nigerian universities to rethink plastic waste as a resource using the principle of circular economy to create wealth.
Ezemonye made the call during a one-day workshop on advancing circular economy for a better environment in universities organised by the university’s center for climate change and SDGs.
In his welcome address, Ezemonye said the university had developed a more efficient and sustainable waste management system with a focus on plastic recycling.
Ezemonye noted that the university in partnership with Natural Eco Capital have come up with an initiative to harness the potential of plastic waste material on campus for new product to create wealth.
He said that the huge waste generated comes with large volumes of plastics resulting from its easy and cheap cost of manufacturing them.
“Plastic waste are strong and difficult to break down by natural processes. Over 40 percent of plastic waste comes as packaging materials that come in various forms.
“Plastic pollution have adverse consequences on land, waterways, air quality and oceans because of its non-biodegradable nature,”he said.
He explained that the sustainable management of solid waste revolves on reduce, reuse and recycle adding that, recycling was the most efficient way to manage plastic waste.
“The university in trying to find lasting solution to the crisis of plastic waste management, has established a plastic aggregation site in the campus
” What this means is that, we have set up a plastic waste redemption center where every plastic waste generated on campus can be taken to, in exchange for cash or vouchers.
” The vision and mission of IUO clearly aligns with the call for climate action and achievement of SDGs through circular economy principles and entrepreneurship.
“This is why IUO infuses climate action and SDGs in its core curriculum as drivers to stimulate our graduates to be future ready for sustainable development,” he added
According to him, there is urgent need to transit from linear economy to more sustainable circular economy.
He added that, it was expedient that universities join IUO in its drive to reposition university education in Nigeria.
Also speaking, the guest speaker, Dr Andrew Amenaghawon said education was key to changing the mindset of future generations.
Amenaghawon, an associate professor of chemical engineering, university of Benin, stressed the need to instill the need to reduce and recycle on the youths.
” The global population is increasing, resources are finite.
The linear economy is not sustainable, a circular economy is advocated for paradigm shift required for a sustainable economy,” he said
Highpoint of the event was the inauguration of the university’s circular economy club by the vice chancellor
