From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE) in Warri, Delta State, Professor Akpofure Rim-Rukeh said the University will set up a Post Graduate Diploma Program in zero waste management technology.

This they said will bridge the knowledge gap that has truncated waste management and zero waste policies in the state and the country.

The Vice Chancellor stated this at the launching of the” Zero Waste Campus Project” in FUPRE, organized by Community Development Advocacy Foundation (CODAF), as part of the first phase of the “End Single Use Plastics Campaign in Campus”, 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 the New Auditorium of FUPRE , had several persons in attendance, including the Vice Chancellor of the university, the Deputy Vice Chancellors of Academics, and Administration, other key administrative staff of the University, students, representatives of the Delta State Waste Management Board, Environmental officers and the media.

The Vice Chancellor stated that his duty as the VC includes looking into areas that will make the University relevant in the society and as such, the Zero Waste Campus project has presented yet another opportunity as relates to the institution’s motor of excellence and relevance.

According to him,” the university prioritizes waste management, hence the setting up of the Center for Waste Management and Sustainable Resources in the university”.

The VC accented to welcoming any collaborative effort with CODAF, to further drive the Zero Waste Initiative, and to also look towards the establishment of a Post Graduate program on Waste Management in the university’s 2025/2026 academic session, to teach the technological and management principles of Zero Waste.

In his welcome address, the 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.

According to him, 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.  He added the project is aimed towards 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 GAIA Africa, Weyinmi Okotie, while introducing the Zero Waste ideology at the launch, stated that Zero Waste promotes a circular economy that encourages a society to produce waste that can be reused.

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 stressed that Zero Waste encourages environmental sustainability. He 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 program also featured the presentation of Zero Waste Guidelines and Plastic-Free Campus Blueprint documents by the CODAF team to the Vice Chancellor and administration of the school, 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.

The program also featured a 2-days training and inauguration of Plastic Free Ambassadors, consisting of students and lecturers, who will be pioneers of the “End Single Use Plastics Campaign in Campus” within and outside the school.

Director of the Center for Waste Management and Sustainable Resources of FUPRE, Dr. Akinyemi Ogunkeyede who will be heading the Plastic Free Ambassadors, appreciated CODAF for the initiative, stating that the group will develop and implement projects that will look towards the drastic reduction of plastic within the institution, and further expose the environmental and economic possibilities in Zero Waste.