By Edu Abade
The Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE), Effurun, Delta State, has disclosed its readiness to begin a Post-Graduate Diploma Programme on zero waste management technology to bridge the knowledge gap between waste management and zero waste policies in the state and entire country.
Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, stated this while unveiling the “Zero Waste Campus Project” in FUPRE, organized by the Community Development Advocacy Foundation (CODAF), as part of the first phase of its End Single Use Plastics Campaign on Campuses, aimed at fostering zero-waste governance in Nigerian universities by launching a Plastic-Free Campus Initiative and reinforcing the broader campaign to prohibit single-use plastics in Delta State.
The event which took place at FUPRE’s New Auditorium of FUPRE on September 10, 2024, was attended the Vice Chancellor, the Deputy Vice Chancellors (DVCs) Academics and Administration, other senior administrative staff members, students, representatives of the Delta State Waste Management Board, environmental officers and journalists.
Speaking, Rim-Rukeh said one of his responsibilities as VC includes exploring areas that will make FUPRE relevant in society and as such, the Zero Waste Campus project presented another opportunity to the institution’s vision of excellence and relevance.
He pointed out that the university prioritizes waste management, hence the setting up of the Centre for Waste Management and Sustainable Resources in the university.
“As an institution that prioritizes waste management, we welcome any collaborative effort with CODAF to further drive the Zero Waste Initiative and to also look towards the establishment of a Post-Graduate programme on Waste Management in the 2025/2026 academic session, to teach the technological and management principles of Zero Waste,” he stated.
Earlier in his welcome address, Executive Director of CODAF, Benin Richard, stated that the zero waste campus project is a comprehensive strategy to build a sustainable waste management culture on campuses, not just aimed at reducing plastic waste, but to also establish an ecosystem where responsible consumption, waste reduction and recycling are given top priority.
He noted that it is the duty of thinkers and researchers to set an example by demonstrating values and principles of sustainability, by taking the decision as a group to bring meaningful change, adding the project is aimed at encouraging higher institutions to take positive actions towards ending the scourge of plastic pollution in the environment.
Benin, who suggested the setting up of a Post Graduate Program on Zero Waste Management in the university, stressed that such academic innovation will set FUPRE as the first university in Nigeria and in Africa with such initiative.
Clean Energy Campaigner for the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) Africa, Weyinmi Okotie, while introducing the Zero Waste initiative, stated that Zero Waste promotes a circular economy that encourages society to produce reusable wastes.
He added that Zero waste goals also looks at responsible production and consumption of waste that goes beyond educating end users on waste management, into advocating for producers to be responsible for the waste they generate.
Weyinmi, who stressed that Zero Waste encourages environmental sustainability, discouraged incineration as a means of disposing waste, as this further pollutes the environment and contributes to the climate crisis.
On her part, CODAF Project Manager on Environment, Melody Enyinnaya, stated that single-use plastic has become a major environmental issue in Nigeria and Africa, which has led to environmental damages due to the lack of proper waste management systems.
She revealed that the aim of the project is to promote zero waste in university institutions in Nigeria, which will trickle down to households, communities and other parts of the society.
The programme featured the presentation of Zero Waste Guidelines and Plastic-Free Campus Blueprint documents by the CODAF team to the university to further guide the Zero Waste initiative in the university.
This was followed by the exhibition of items made from waste materials by the students of the University to showcase the institution’s readiness for the Zero Waste models.
It also featured a two-day training and inauguration of Plastic Free Ambassadors, comprising students and lecturers, who will be pioneers of the “End Single Use Plastics Campaign on Campus” within and outside the institution.
Director of FUPRE Centre for Waste Management and Sustainable Resources, Dr. Akinyemi Ogunkeyede, who will head the Plastic-Free Ambassadors, commended CODAF for the initiative, stating that the group would develop and implement projects that will look towards the drastic reduction of plastic in the institution, as well as further expose the environmental and economic possibilities in Zero Waste.
