Two UI students shine in French Embassy’s Plastic Creativity Challenge

Two University of Ibadan students emerge as winners in the French Embassy’s “Get Creative with Plastic” Challenge, part of a Plastic Free Campus Awareness Initiative

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]wo bright students from the University of Ibadan (UI) have been announced as winners of the French Embassy’s “Get Creative with Plastic” Challenge.

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The announcement was made in a statement released on Tuesday by the university’s Director of Public Communication, Mrs Joke Akinpelu.

Akinpelu explained that the challenge was a key component of the French Embassy’s broader Plastic Free Campus Awareness Initiative.

UI was one of only ten Nigerian universities selected to participate in this significant initiative, which received funding from the French Embassy Fund (FEF) Project.

The initiative was championed by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale, and its coordination was overseen by the Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships), Professor Oluyemisi Bamgbose, SAN. Mrs Akinpelu also noted the valuable support received from other management staff members.

“UI recorded the highest level of engagement among all participating campuses, a feat that can only be from the institution as the ‘First and the Best’.” – Mrs Joke Akinpelu

Professor Aina Adeogun of the Department of Zoology served as the dedicated focal person for the UI-FEF Campus Wide Initiative, ensuring its smooth implementation within the university.

Working in close collaboration with the Students’ Union Executive Committee, the Directorate of Public Communication, and the Information Technology and Media Services Unit, the team successfully fostered robust student engagement and widespread participation across the entire university community.

Akinpelu highlighted the institution’s remarkable contribution to the challenge, with over 300 students actively participating and submitting approximately 100 creative entries.

“UI recorded the highest level of engagement among all participating campuses, a feat that can only be from the institution as the ‘First and the Best’,” she proudly stated.

Due to this exceptional level of commitment and creativity, the University of Ibadan stood out as the only university among the ten participating institutions to have two winners in the challenge.

Mrs Akinpelu disclosed the names of the distinguished winners: Debbie Paul, a 300-level student from the Department of Environmental Health Science, Faculty of Public Health, who emerged victorious in the Music Category.

The second winner was Adekunle Akorede, also a 300-level student from the Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, who excelled in the Writing Category.

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Mrs Akinpelu emphasized that this significant recognition underscores the University of Ibadan’s continued leadership and sustained excellence in addressing the critical issues of plastic pollution and environmental sustainability within Nigeria.