In Nigeria, the Statewide Waste and Environmental Education Foundation (SWEEP) is launching the "Green Campus" project to promote the transition to the circular economy of plastic waste on university campuses in Nigeria. The project will be funded by grants from The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF).
The “Green Campus” project was officially launched on April 5, 2023 at the University of Ibadan, located in Oyo State, Nigeria. The project developed and implemented by Statewide Waste and Environmental Education (SWEEP) aims to reduce plastic pollution on university campuses, and encourage students to adopt the practice of circular economy which has many benefits including environmental conservation.
Nigeria’s higher education system is represented by nearly 170 universities according to the 2023 report by uniRank, the leading international higher education directory and search engine. These campuses are home to a significant portion of Nigeria’s population, which is also a stakeholder in plastic pollution. Nigeria generates an average of 5.96 million tons of plastic waste per year according to the World Population Review.
Coca-Cola’s funding
In response to this pollution, the Nigerian Sweep Foundation will educate students and campus officials on the importance of preserving the environment and reducing the costs associated with waste management. At least 250 students selected from campuses in Nigeria will then be trained in the collection and recycling of plastic waste. “Knowledge that, when capitalized on, could help empower them financially, especially through the sale of plastic bottles and the management of campus-based waste drop-off centers,” SWEEP says.
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The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF) will fund the project through grants. “We are proud to support this initiative that will not only improve the campus waste value chain in Nigeria, but also help inspire a generation of environmental advocates,” says Saadia Madsbjerg, president of TCCF. Coca-Cola’s commitment to this project is part of its sustainability policy, which aims to recycle 100% of its plastic waste by 2030.
After the Ibadan campus, the Green Campus project will roll out to other universities, expanding what will not only be a revolutionary approach to community-based waste management, but also a catalyst for socio-economic recovery throughout Nigeria.
Inès Magoum
