The Igbinedion University Okada, Edo, has emerged as one of the winners of the European Union’s Grant for Sustainable Plastic Waste and Recycling Management (SWARM), a capacity building project.
The three-year project, worth 800,000 euros (about N1.24 billion) is designed to revolutionise sustainable plastic waste management and recycling practices in Nigeria and South Africa.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, disclosed this at the presentation of the partnership agreement, in Okada on Wednesday.
Ezemonye, an environmental advocate, welcomed the development, stressing that the project aligns with the university’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
According to him, the grant, along with international collaboration will help to manage the menace of plastic waste in Nigeria.
“The project will enhance solid waste management training, foster recycling and resource recovery, and facilitate technology transfer through international collaboration.”
He explained that SWARM aims to equip staff and students with the necessary skills for adopting innovative, sustainable technologies and methodologies in plastic waste management.
He added that the initiative would enhance solid waste management training, foster recycling and resource recovery.
“It will also facilitate technology transfer through international collaboration.
“With a comprehensive approach across multiple work packages, SWARM aspires to create a replicable model for environmental stewardship, thereby contributing significantly to the global sustainability agenda,” Ezemonye said.
The SWARM consortium is a collaboration of three higher education institutions each in Nigeria and South Africa with European partners.
NAN
