In a significant move to address plastic waste management, France has entered into a sponsorship agreement with 13 Nigerian universities to establish research centers and build micro plants. This collaboration, under the French Embassy Fund (FEF) Project 2024, involves a funding commitment of €753,000.
The beneficiary institutions include Alex Ekwueme University, Bayero University Kano, Nile University, Covenant University, Babcock University, University of Jos (UNIJOS), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), University of Ibadan, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Yaba College of Technology, University of Calabar, University of Nigeria Nsukka, and University of Delta.
This initiative is part of the French government’s global effort to combat plastic pollution. The program aims to support young Nigerian researchers in developing innovative solutions for a healthier and safer environment, particularly in educational settings.
The FEF, managed by the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, supports rapid-impact, highly visible actions benefiting local populations. Over the next 18 months, the project will unfold through three main components:
- Micro Plants: Funding and delivering micro plants co-designed with UNILAG and Nile University, equipped to handle plastic collection, processing, and transformation.
- Research Projects: Supporting five to six innovative research projects focused on sustainable development, circular economy, gender inclusivity, and entrepreneurial potential.
- Capacity Building: Implementing training programs, facilitating scientific exchanges between Nigerian and French researchers, and offering mobility programs at the higher education level.
The funded projects are expected to be fully operational and sustainable by December 2025.
During an event at the French Embassy in Abuja, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Jean Francois Hasperue emphasized the urgency of addressing climate change, highlighting Nigeria’s vulnerability as one of the world’s ten most climate-sensitive countries. He stressed the need for global solutions and the importance of youth activism in combating climate change.
Hasperue stated, “Climate change is no longer a distant threat but a present reality. We must listen to each other and recognize that combating climate change requires international, collaborative, and cross-generational solutions. This includes investing in renewable energy, protecting natural ecosystems, and developing adaptation strategies.”
The French Embassy is committed to engaging with researchers, civil society, artists, students, and activists, ensuring expert and professional involvement in all discussions. Additionally, through scholarship programs, the embassy supports Nigerian students pursuing sustainable development and environmental sciences in France.
The FEF project, titled “Plastic Waste Management in Nigerian Campuses,” will be actively implemented over the next 18 months, reinforcing France’s commitment to environmental sustainability and international collaboration.
