The University of Jos has unveiled its first-ever Plastic-Free Campus Awareness Initiative and “Get Creative with Plastic” competition, aimed at promoting environmental sustainability and empowering students to find innovative ways to convert plastic waste into economic opportunities. The programme is supported by the French Embassy Fund (FEF).
Speaking during the launch, Vice-Chancellor Professor Tanko Ishaya, represented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Joash Amupitan, described the initiative as a landmark step that showcases UNIJOS’s dedication to sustainability, creativity, and international collaboration.
He expressed pride in the university’s inclusion among 14 Nigerian institutions selected for the FEF-backed programme.
“We are proud to be part of this global movement. This campaign is not just about a cleaner campus—it’s about instilling a mindset of responsibility and innovation among our students,” Amupitan stated.
He added that the university was committed to leveraging partnerships like that of the French Embassy to convert plastic waste into useful and profitable products.
Amupitan urged academic departments to incorporate the campaign into research and innovation efforts, noting that new technologies offer opportunities to extract value from discarded materials.
He also referenced Rwanda’s status as a plastic-free country as a model for the kind of transformation the initiative aspires to achieve.
In his remarks, Professor Ponchang Wuyep, Coordinator of the university’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Unit, highlighted the environmental dangers of plastic pollution.
He stressed that while plastics may have economic value, their adverse effects on health, agriculture, and ecosystems are severe.
“As a scientist, I can tell you plastics block soil pores, hinder plant growth, and can take centuries to degrade. They are now found in our food and water sources as microplastics, posing long-term risks,” Wuyep said.
He noted that some individuals already earn income from collecting and reselling plastic waste and encouraged students to build on such models, citing the university’s fabrication lab that uses recycled plastic for 3D printing.
Mrs. Naomi Embaga, UNIJOS liaison officer for the project, expressed gratitude to the French Embassy for its support and for insisting on the university’s inclusion in the campaign, despite not receiving an initial grant.
She acknowledged the efforts of the planning team, student volunteers, and staff who ensured the programme’s success.
Former SUG President, Comrade Dakon Josiah, who spoke on behalf of the students, thanked the French Embassy and university management for introducing a project that addresses an issue students directly face—plastic waste on campus.
He urged the administration to consider incorporating the recycling initiative into the university’s work-study programme to give students a chance to earn while promoting sustainability.
