Oando Foundation (OF), an independent charity has partnered Sumitomo Chemical Japan’s leading chemical companies to launch a project ‘Clean Our World’ (COW) in target schools and host communities in Lagos State.
The project aims to promote environmental education and responsibility by creating awareness and empowering children and teachers in 7 public primary schools and their host communities with the knowledge of plastic recycling and waste management.
Adekanla Adegoke, head, Oando Foundation says the partnership with Sumitomo Chemical over the years has been directed towards improved digital literacy in public primary schools through the establishment of 6 solar-powered digital learning centres across Nigeria.
Adegoke says the C.O.W project marks a positive expansion of our work together and our commitment to designing and implementing multi-dimensional education interventions.
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Tomoyuki Hirayama, general manager, general affairs department, Sumitomo Chemical opines that the company’s education support programme for Africa started with the development of Olyset ® net, a long-lasting insecticidal net that helps prevent the spread of malaria.
According to Hirayama “We believe that improving the educational environment is also crucial for Africa to achieve self-sustaining economic development, and thus have been engaged with various partners in supporting schools since 2005.
It is estimated that Nigeria generates over 32 million tons of solid waste annually of which 30 percent is plastic.
There is increased flooding across cities during the rainy season due to clogged drainage systems, directly attributable to poor waste disposal techniques.
Education is an essential element of the global response to environmental sustainability. It helps young people understand and address environmental issues, encourages changes in their attitudes and behaviour, and helps them adapt to climate change-related trends.
Adegoke further noted that learning transcends the classroom, encouraging environmental education through the COW project will help pupils understand how their decisions and actions affect the environment, build knowledge and skills necessary to address complex environmental issues, explore different actions to keep our environment healthy and sustainable for the future.
Commenting on the partnership, Hirayama expressed the company’s excitement adding that the partnership with Oando Foundation has brought the new initiative of plastic recycling and waste management, “as we define contribution to developing a circular system for plastics as one of our high-priority and material management issues,”
The C. O. W project will among other things encourage the adoption of eco-conscious lifestyles as benefiting schools and communities include: Dele Ajomale Schools Complex ( I– IV) Ilasamaja, Metropolitan Primary School, Orile- Iganmu, Olisa Primary School and Methodist Primary School, Mushin.
Creating awareness on recycling, environmental responsibility and sustainability will help explain, inform, motivate, persuade, and encourage beneficiaries in target schools and communities to embrace behavioural changes necessary for long-term impact.
