The University of Ibadan has achieved a remarkable milestone as two of its students emerged winners in the “Get Creative with Plastic” Challenge, a part of the French Embassy’s Plastic Free Campus Awareness Initiative. 

UI was one of the ten Nigerian universities selected to participate in the initiative which is funded by the French Embassy Fund (FEF) Project.

The initiative was championed by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Adebowale and coordinated through the Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships), Prof. Oluyemisi Bamgbose, with support from Prof. P. Olapegba (DVC Administration), Prof. Aderonke Baiyeroju (DVC Academics), and the Registrar, Mr. Ganiyi Saliu.

Prof. Aina Adeogun of the Department of Zoology served as the focal person for the UI-FEF Campus Wide Initiative. 

Working closely with the Students’ Union Executive Committee, Directirate of Public Communication, and Informatiom Technology and Media Services Unit, the team ensured robust student engagement and wide participation across the university community.

The University of Ibadan’s contribution stood out significantly with over 300 students actively participating and more than 100 creative submissions in the Challenge. UI recorded the highest level of engagement among all participating campuses, a feat that can only be from UI as the “First and the Best”.

Due to this extraordinary commitment, the university became the only university among the ten to have two winners in the Challenge:

The winners are: Paul Debbie – a 300 level student of the Department of Environmental Health Science, Faculty of Public Health – Music Category and Adekunle Julius Akorede – a 300 level student of the Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences – Writing Category.

This recognition confirms UI’s leadership and sustained excellence in addressing plastic pollution and environmental sustainability in Nigeria.

[TheNation]