In a colourful and globally significant ceremony, the Management of Covenant University (CU), in Canaan Land, Ota, commissioned its Waste to Wealth initiative (W2W). The event which took place on October 8, 2014, amidst lots of excitement, featured the formal launch of specifically labelled waste bins, which would be used for the first phase of CU’s initiative to drive environmental recovery in Africa.
The entire programme will cover all aspects of Solid Waste Management procedures, to include, Source Reduction and Reuse, Recycling/Composting, Energy Recovery, as well as, Treatment and Disposal. That is, the project is geared towards waste prevention, carbon reduction, cost savings and resource efficiency.
While giving his remarks at the event, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Charles Ayo said, “This is one of the ways to go, in driving 21st Century Higher Education platform, in other to make judicious use of the resources at our disposal. In this part of the world, talking about Nigeria, and Africa, this is a very novel contribution.”
Moreover, the Vice-Chancellor noted that the benefits of the project is to be able to recycle waste on campus, keep the environment clean, and drive Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), through the production of different products that will meet the needs around us.
He further stated that adequate management of waste would make the produce from Covenant University Farms more organic and thereby, improving the wellbeing of the general public.
In his opening remarks, the Registrar, Dr. Olumuyiwa Oludayo, referred to the Commissioning event as a landmark event which was set to announce Covenant University to the world.
While making his remarks at the event, the Chairman of the Waste to Wealth Committee, Dr. David O. Olukanni of the Department of Civil Engineering, said that the Waste to Wealth initiative is backed up basically by what Jesus said to his disciples in John 6:12, “When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.”
Dr. Olukanni further stated that Covenant is embarking on the programme as an environmental sustainability project and to also mitigate environmental pollution. This, he said, would greatly propel the university towards its vision of becoming one of the top ten universities in the world in ten years.
The Chairman also said that solid waste would be sorted in terms of organic and inorganic materials; organic, in form of food waste and inorganic in form of PET bottles, paper and disposables.
Other members of the Waste to Wealth committee include, Dr. Kolawole Oluseyi Ajanaku, an Associate Professor and HOD, Industrial Chemistry; Arc. Gbenga Alalade and Mr. Ayo Oluwalana.
Also present at the event were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Taiwo Abioye, other members of the Covenant University Management, Faculty and Staff.