By Peter Egwuatu
U-Recycle Initiative Africa, a youth-led Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO, has trained over twenty thousand youths across four federal universities in Nigeria through the second edition of its flagship multi-year initiative for universities, called PlasticWize 2.0.
The NGO is advancing environmental education, circular economy solutions, and climate action across Africa.
Through PlasticWize 2.0, themed, “Redefining Sustainable Campuses in Africa,” U-recycle initiative.
Africa empowers students to lead localised environmental and climate solutions, with a strong focus on long-term systemic and behavioural change, positioning young people at the centre of Africa’s sustainability transition to circular economy systems, even in educational institutions.
According to a statement from U-Recycle Initiative Africa, the initiative has been implemented across the University of Lagos (UNILAG), University of Benin (UNIBEN), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), and Ladoke Akintola University of Technology(LAUTECH). PlasticWize 2.0 by U-recycle Initiative Africa is supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the world’s largest environmental funder, with technical support from the United Nations Industrial Organization (UNIDO).
“A key component of PlasticWize 2.0 is the Behavioural Change Outreach also known as Eco-Campus Outreach, a groundbreaking six-month youth campaign that combined gamification, storytelling, humour, and art to catalyze ecofriendly behaviours in university students. Grounded in behavioural science, the campaign promotes long-term reduction in single-use plastic consumption through multiple engagement strategies, and has reached more than twenty thousands students across Nigeria” the statement noted.
Another key component, according to the statement was the #iAmPlasticWize Challenge, a 10-day gamified experience that transformed eco-friendly habits into a fun, insightful, and impactful journey for students, engaging over 1,200 participants.
In recognition of outstanding participation, four grand winners of the challenge were selected to receive N250,000 scholarships following a rigorous evaluation of participants’ performance. The winners include Hameedah Raji of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology; Olamiposi Olasanoye of the University of Lagos; Adebayo Olugbenga of Obafemi Awolowo University; and Favour Orukpe of the University of Benin.
