Connect with us

News

France Collaborates with 13 Nigerian Universities to Research into Plastic Waste Management

Published

on

France Collaborates with 13 Nigerian Universities to Research into Plastic Waste Management

By: Michael Mike

France in order to help Plastic Waste Management in the country has entered a sponsorship agreement with 13 Nigeria universities to develop research centres and build micro plants.

The agreement which €753,000 is part of the French Embassy Fund (FEF) Project 2024 and the benefiting institutions are Alex Ekwueme University, Bayero University Kano, Nile University, Covenant University, Babcock University, University of Jos (UNIJOS), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), University of Ibadan, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Yaba College of Technology, University of Calabar, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and University of Delta.

This FEF project is an initiative of the French Government as part of the global dynamic to fight against plastic pollution. Funding under this programme is intended to support Young Nigerian researchers from the partnered Universities in order to develop innovative adaptive ideas for a healthier and safer environment, where Plastic Waste has less to no impact, especially in the educational environment.

The French Embassy Fund is a programme under the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs designed to help French representations abroad to carry out innovative actions on the ground that have a rapid impact and are highly visible for the benefit of local populations.
The project will be deployed within the next 18 months, through three components: Funding and delivery of micro plants co-designed by and for two universities (UNILAG and Nile University), equipped with adapted machineries to tackle plastic collection, processing and eventually transformation; Funding five to six research projects in innovative solutions with high added value with regards to sustainable development, circular economy, qualitative value chain, gender inclusivity and strong entrepreneurial potential; Boosting capacity building with focus training programmes to support the research projects, scientific exchange between Nigerian and French researchers and mobility programmes at a Higher Education level.

Funded projects are expected to be fully implemented and sustainable by December 2025.

Speaking at the event which held on Thursday night at the French Embassy in Nigeria in Abuja, the Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of France to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Jean Francois Hasperue said: “We are witnessing climate change effects, whether in the form of extreme weather events, rising sea levels, loss of biodiversity or severe droughts. Nigeria is a sad example of this, as it is one of the 10 countries in the world most sensitive to climate change. Climate change is no longer a distant threat, but a present reality, contrary to what the climatoseptics would have us believe.”

He noted that: “These issues are global and we need to find global solutions together as air pollution does not stop at the border nor plastic pollution in the oceans.

“The rise of youth activism is one of the most significant developments in the fight against climate change in my view. All along the events I have seen and met the young people and also the public committed to tackle these issues. We owe it to them to listen to their voices and to provide them with answers that are sometimes incomplete, but also to always leave room for discussion.

“It’s with a great deal of humility that we need to listen to each other and recognize that we can no longer continue to act as we have in the past. Combating climate change and building climate resilience require international collaborative and cross-generational solutions.”

The envoy said: “This means investing in renewable energy, protecting natural ecosystems and developing adaptation strategies to cope with the inevitable impacts of climate change.”

He said the French Embassy Fund entitled “Plastic waste management in Nigerian campuses” project will be deployed within the next 18 months.

He added that at the French Embassy in Nigeria, and as with every event, we are going the extra mile to reach out to researchers, civil society, artists, students and activists to make our events exceptional and to put the experts and professionals in each field at the centre of all discussions.

The envoy revealed that through scholarship programmes, “we support five bachelors students currently attending the “French+Sciences” Sustainable Development short training programme in Montpellier during one month. And today, seven more candidates have been selected as laureates of the France Excellence scholarship programme to continue their studies in Environmental sciences for a two years Master programme.

France Collaborates with 13 Nigerian Universities to Research into Plastic Waste Management

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Crime

NSCDC FCT COMMAND ARRESTS SUSPECTED VANDALS, RECOVERS AK47 RIFLE

Published

on

NSCDC FCT COMMAND ARRESTS SUSPECTED VANDALS, RECOVERS AK47 RIFLE

By: Michael Mike

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command has arrested four suspected vandals in Dabi Bako area of the Kwali Area Council, Abuja.

The arrest was made during a routine patrol of the anti vandal team of the Command where one of the suspects was caught vandalizing armoured cables at the National Mathematical Centre (NMC), small Sheda, Kwali, kwali Area council, Abuja.

Upon interrogation, the suspect made useful confessions that led to the arrest of three (3) other accomplices and the recovery of more stolen armoured cables already on its way to the market.

The suspects are:
Amodu Lawal, 20 years, male, Katsina
Zaki Idris, 32 years, male, Kano
Suleiman Yunusa, 25 years, male, Kano
Isa Abdulrazak, 38 years, male, Kano

Further investigation is ongoing, thereafter the suspects would be prosecuted according to the provisions of the NSCDC ACT which empowers the Corps to arrests, detain and prosecute in the name of the Attorney General of the Federation (NSCDC Act Section 3:1f).

In the same vein, the men of the Anti- Vandal unit of the Command while on patrol in Abaji Area Council discovered an Ak47 rifle without its magazine attached in a farmland.

According to the farm owner who alerted the men on patrol, the riffle was discovered by him in his maize farm upon his arrival early in the morning at about 7am to work on his farm.

The said rifle have been recovered and taken to the Command’s headquarters for safe keeping and further investigation to unravel the ownership and source of the rifle.

The NSCDC FCT Commandant, Dr Olusola Odumosu commended the command’s anti vandal team for their gallantry and commitment to the protection of critical infrastructure as well as safety of the FCT residents in general.

He charged them not to rest on their oars but to redouble their efforts towards ensuring total eradication of vandals by effecting more arrest of these criminal elements destroying public utilities.

He assured FCT residents of the Corps commitment to their safety and the protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure which is already yielding positive results.

“We want to assure all residents of the FCT that we will not rest on our oars, we are determined to keep you safe and ensure the protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure in the FCT” the commandant said.

Dr Odumosu praised the farm owner for alerting the operatives on patrol upon his discovery of the rifle and not keeping it to himself for sinister motives.

He advised other citizens to emulate the patriotic spirit exhibited by the farm owner by reporting promptly any incident of crime or suspicious movement or activities in their environment to security agencies nearest to them.

NSCDC FCT COMMAND ARRESTS SUSPECTED VANDALS, RECOVERS AK47 RIFLE

Continue Reading

News

Interior Minister Commissions New Fire Station in Bayelsa

Published

on

Interior Minister Commissions New Fire Station in Bayelsa

By: Michael Mike

The Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has commissioned a new fire station donated by Senator Henry Seriake Dickson to the Federal Fire Service (FFS) in Bayelsa State.

The fire station is based in Toru Orua, a community located in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Thursday, Tunji-Ojo, who praised the senator’s gesture, noted that the new facility would enhance the agency’s ability to respond to fire incidents in the state.

He said: “It takes an exposed mind, a visionary personality to understand what is happening here today. With this, you are making this place a hub for the industrial revolution that will happen in the Niger-Delta.

“This is the first time I am seeing this exemplary initiative from a senator, and it shows that you understand that fire service is not just about fire as they are the first responders in any emergency situations. On behalf of the father of the nation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), thank you for being a pacesetter and hoisting the flag of greatness and development in the Niger-Delta region.”

The Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, Engr. Abdulganiyu Jaji, expressed his gratitude to Senator Seriake Dickson for donating a new fire station to the agency. “I thank His Excellency, the former governor of Bayelsa State, and current Senator representing Bayelsa West for this edifice,” Jaji said.

“I appreciate him for considering the building of a Fire Service station as his constituency project. With his collaboration, I am delighted that we now have this facility ready for operation.”

Speaking on the role of the fire service in response and rescue operations, Dickson called on lawmakers at both state and national levels to prioritize fire safety and consider building fire response capacities from their constituency allocations.

He said: “I use this medium to call on all our leaders in the country, our legislators at both state and national levels to consider seriously the issue of fire safety. The government cannot have the resources on their own to build the fire response capacity that our great country needs. I, hereby, call for support for the fire service.

“While we all agree that it is very important that we support security outfits, we don’t sometimes remember the critical role that the fire service that should be at the forefront of response and rescue operations needs to be. I want to call on legislators to think of building fire response capacities from their constituency allocations. I believe this will assist the service to deliver better on their mandate.”

Dickson assured the Minister of his support in the Senate for the reforms being implemented under the ministry.

The newly commissioned fire station is equipped with modern firefighting equipment and vehicles, and is expected to improve the overall firefighting capacity in the state.

Interior Minister Commissions New Fire Station in Bayelsa

Continue Reading

News

Police stresses commitments on security and safety in Damaturu

Published

on

Police stresses commitments on security and safety in Damaturu

By: Our Reporter

The Commissioner of Police, CP Garba Ahmed, stresses his commitment to ensuring security and safety in the state and emphasizes collective responsibility from all members of the communities in Damaturu to ensure success in crime fighting in the state.

The police commissioner further encourages the people to do their part by establishing local measures in their communities and houses against hoodlums around and informing the police of criminal hideouts, suspicious movements, and likely perpetrators crimes.

A statement from the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Dungus Abdul Karim on Thursday said the command is encouraging members of the communities to report complaints or addressing them in writing to the nearest police station or visiting the command headquarters.

The statement said the command has intercepted a circulating viral message on some of the social media from a unanimous source with the caption:

RE: URGENT APPEAL FOR ACTION AGAINST RAMPANT ROBBERY INCIDENTS IN DAMATURU.”

“We wish to inform the public that during the period under review, there were no recorded incidents of robbery at any of the three Divisional Police Headquarters, Area Command Office, or tactical units within Damaturu metropolis.

“However, minor criminal activities like house trespass, burglary, and theft occurred in a few residential areas, which the command has marked for attention and designed strategies to curb in the nearest future.

“These crimes often result from residents’ neglect of security consciousness, allowing easy access to hoodlums in their surroundings.

“Our records show that most perpetrators are either residents or led by syndicate members from other areas.

“To set the record straight, robbery involves the use of force or arms and direct engagement with the person or dwelling, which is not the case in these incidents.” The statement added.

Police stresses commitments on security and safety in Damaturu

Continue Reading

Trending

Verified by MonsterInsights