Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike (AE-FUNAI), Ebonyi State, has been awarded €50k by the French Government as part of a broader initiative to tackle plastic pollution and promote environmental sustainability on campus. The university is one of five Nigerian institutions selected to benefit from the Plastic Management Project, a €753,000 effort aimed at fostering innovative solutions to plastic waste, a growing environmental concern in the country.
The French Embassy’s Head of Cooperation and Cultural Affairs, Thierry Valentin, made the announcement at the official inauguration of the French Embassy Fund (FEF) on October 9, 2024. AE-FUNAI, alongside Obafemi Awolowo University, Yaba College of Technology, University of Calabar, and University of Delta, received the award to boost their efforts in developing adaptive and sustainable projects to manage plastic waste.
Valentin emphasized that the initiative is part of the French Government’s global campaign to encourage effective plastic waste management, focusing on young Nigerian researchers to lead innovative environmental projects.
Representing AE-FUNAI at the event, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sunday Elom, commended the French Government for its support. He assured that the funds would be used effectively to advance research and innovation in plastic waste management. His deputy, Prof. Romanus Ejiaga, added that AE-FUNAI’s longstanding Campus-Green Initiative, established in 2016, has been instrumental in promoting eco-friendly practices and will benefit greatly from the additional funding.
