WED: Foundation donates 100 recycling bins to schools in Ogun, Lagos

The Foundation for a Better Environment (FABE) on Monday said it had donated 100 giant recycling bins to schools in Ogun and Lagos States.

The founder of FABE, Mrs Temitope Okunnu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the donation was to promote environmental sustainability and commemorate the World Environment Day (WED).

NAN reports that the World Environment Day is the United Nations day for encouraging worldwide awareness and action to protect the environment, held annually on June 5.

The theme for the World Environment Day 2023, which is under the campaign #BeatPlasticPollution is, “Ecosystem Restoration”.

“With funding from the Coca-Cola Foundation and with our determination to ensure that Nigerians become environmentally responsible, we have donated 100 giant recycling bins to different schools in Ogun and Lagos states.

“This is line with our goal to promote the importance of environmental education in schools.

“We are doing this because we understand the role that environmental education plays in shaping the future of our next generation,” she told NAN.

Okunnu said that the bins were donated to Akande Dahunsi Senior Secondary School, Ikoyi; Olomu Junior Secondary School, Ajah, among others in Lagos State.

“In Ogun State, the foundation donated some of the bins to Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta; Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), where it is also going to set up a recycling hub,” she said.

According to the FABE founder, funding for the donation is in line with the group’s aim to promote circular economy, waste management, recycling activities and to commemorate the World Environment Day.

Okunnu stressed that recycling was one of the solutions to beat plastic pollution in the country, adding that the Foundation wanted the next generation to have a responsibility to the environment, hence its donation to the schools.

“We want to create more awareness about sustainable waste management, segregation, sorting and recycling at an early age.

“We are also targeting the higher institutions this time and not only the secondary and primary schools.

“We also want to encourage both the students and teachers to adopt sustainable practices by planning and sorting their waste, recycling and to reduce the amount of waste in our dumpsites.

“Through this, we can promote our circular economy approach; we also want our students, teachers and even the parents to work towards the achievement of environmental Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“We are not just donating bins, we are also teaching students and changing the narrative to waste management and sustainable solutions,” Okunnu said.

She reiterated that the donation was beyond giving out bins, but to change the narrative to waste management, recycling activities and sustainable lifestyles.

“We are also going to be empowering the students to make income by the side when they drop their plastic waste at recycling bins in exchange for cash.

“The donation is to demonstrate our commitment to supporting efforts in creating an environmentally sustainable learning environment. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria