Enugu campus to build on Green Project for cleaner university environment”
By Uzor Odigbo
The Green Campus Project, an initiative of the Statewide Waste and Environmental Education Foundation (SWEEP) was unveiled by the Enugu State deputy governor.
Welcoming guests at the unveiling ceremony, Amb. Obuesi Phillips, the President of SWEEP Foundation outlined the essence of the project and it’s mutual benefits to the university Community and evirons.
“The Green Campus Project will provide recyclable plastic waste collection assets (receptacles, Tricycle, waste pickers, handgloves, coveralls, boots etc) and support to selected collectors, and aggregators to help accelerate the collection of waste plastics within and around University campuses”.
In a press release made available to TheNiche, Amb. Obuesi said, “plastic waste in higher Institutions has become problematic and a serious environmental dilemma for inhabitants of university campuses and communities.
Plastics decompose very slowly (your average plastic bottle takes up to 450 years), so they tend to stick around if not recycled properly. Over time, plastics kill animals and harm human health”.
He also stated that higher institutions as change agents in society play a central role in supporting students to forge more sustainable and inclusive societies necessary to tackling plastic pollution. With each student producing approximately 0.59kg of waste, University campuses/communities produce approximately 1,062,000kg of waste materials daily of which 12% is recyclable waste”
He emphasied that University campuses and communities suffer from indiscriminate waste disposal habits of staff and students, occasioned by low level awareness, and inadequate drainage infrastructure. The dumping of refuse along campus corners, lecture rooms and halls constitutes serious environmental health hazard. These illicit dumps serve as home for vermin such as flies, mosquitoes, cockroaches and other vectors of infectious disease).
Obuesi proferred solutions to the challenges insisting that University campuses will need comprehensive recyclable waste management programs that provide tracking, reporting, and awareness for the benefits of University communities. “The Green Campus Project” will implement a Recyclable Waste Reduction Program that will establish sustainable recyclable drop-off points (recycle Banks) and deployment of mobile recyclable collection receptacles across selected University campuses while, at the same time, providing sustainable livelihood opportunities for students and youth resident around target campus communities.
The host and Deputy Vice Chancellor of the Unversity Prof. D.C Nwachukwu expressed deep appreciation to the SWEEP Foubdation and the sponsors, the Coca-Cola Foundation for thinking the University worthy of the Green Campus Project initiative.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor further expressed the readiness and commitment of the University of Nigeria to work with the organisers and the sponsors to ensure the actualisation of the project objectives, pledging that the school take steps to ensure the full participation of students and staff in the project.
In his remarks, the Deputy Governor of Enugu State Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai ably represented by Dr. Solomon Ejim thanked SWEEP Foundation, the Coca-Cola Foundation and the University community for the collaboration. Mr. Deputy Governor onserv3d that globally, governments, businesses, and individuals play crucial.roles in promoting recycling and ensuring a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable planet.
Highlight of the unveiling ceremony was the inauguration of the GREEN CAMPUS AMBASSADORS of University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus.
The unveiling ceremony which held inside University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus was attended by the Deputy Governor of Enugu State represented by Dr. Solomon Ejim Esq., the Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. D.C. Nwachukwu, the Association Dean Student Affairs Mrs. I. Udoh, Dr. Chijioke Nneji MD, Cinnamon Drugs Ltd, Engr. Henry Okafor, Hon. Chijioke Ezeanwu amongst many others.