By Joseph Onigah
The University of Calabar (UNICAL) has bagged the French Government Award in Plastic Waste Management in Nigerian Campuses, attracting €50,000 (₦90 million at €1 x ₦1,800) research grant.
The award which was presented by the French Embassy in Nigeria on Wednesday, 11th October 2024, noted that a total of €753,000 was earmarked to help Universities across Nigeria develop innovative, adaptive and sustainable project ideas which will address plastic pollution.
A total of five tertiary institutions, including the prestigious University of Calabar, were awarded in the country for fighting plastic pollution on campus.
The institutions include the University of Calabar, Alex Ekwueme Federal University (AE-FUNAI), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Delta University and the Yaba College of Technology.
The Head of Corporation and Cultural Affairs in the French Embassy, Thierry Valentine, said the five institutions have been awarded over ₦500 million to encourage young researchers in Nigeria to develop innovative ideas for a safer environment.
He said the project to combat plastic pollution in Nigeria, tagged the French Embassy Fund (FEF), was part of the French government’s effort to encourage proper plastic waste management globally.
Speaking in Abuja, Valentine said, “We had a lot of good projects, but these five have been selected because they are scientific and result-oriented. We want to face the huge question of plastic pollution here in Nigeria; the wish is to show with a few examples that it can work.”
Receiving the award on behalf of the University of Calabar, the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Florence Banku Obi, thanked the French Embassy for partnering with the university and for finding it worthy of such an award and grant.
The VC who was represented by the University’s Provost of the School of Postgraduate Studies, Prof. Eyong Ubana Eyong, noted that the effort of the workaholic Vice-Chancellor of the institution yielded positive results as she visited the embassy earlier this year for such partnership among others.
The VC, however, commended the University Team leader, Dr Igelle Evaristus Idaga, of the Department of Environmental Management for making the university proud while reinstating her administration’s commitment to academic excellence.