A housing researcher at Covenant University, Ota, Foluke Jegede, says converting plastic waste into building materials can help address Nigeria’s housing deficit while promoting environmental sustainability.

Mrs Jegede, who heads the Centre for Housing and Environmental Studies at the university, disclosed this in an interview with journalists in Lagos.

She said the university’s research team was implementing a project tagged “Plastic to Purpose”, aimed at transforming plastic waste into affordable and sustainable building materials.

According to her, the project is supported by the David Oyedepo Foundation through a research grant and seeks to tackle plastic pollution through innovative construction solutions.

“The goal is to convert plastic waste into building materials that can contribute to cleaner environments and reduce the cost of housing.

“The benefits are enormous. We will keep the environment cleaner, develop cheaper building materials, advance technology and improve living conditions,” she said.

Mrs Jegede said the initiative would also create economic opportunities by encouraging the collection and sale of plastic waste for recycling.

She commended Covenant University and the David Oyedepo Foundation for supporting the research.

The researcher said the project was being implemented in partnership with industry stakeholders, including Richbol Nigeria and the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute.

According to her, the partners are providing technical support and helping to position the research for large-scale commercial application.

Mrs Jegede identified public perception as one of the major challenges facing the project, noting that many people remained sceptical about the viability and attractiveness of alternative building materials.

She said the research team planned to develop a prototype building constructed largely from recycled plastic-based materials to demonstrate their durability and aesthetic appeal.

“As architects, we want to ensure the products are visually appealing and commercially attractive.

“The prototype will help break the perception that alternative building materials cannot be beautiful or functional,” she said.

Mrs Jegede said the project aligns with circular economy principles by converting waste into valuable resources for the construction sector.

She added that the initiative could help address housing shortages, particularly in urban areas experiencing rapid population growth.

According to her, rising urban populations will continue to place pressure on housing infrastructure, making sustainable and innovative building solutions increasingly important.

Mrs Jegede said the project seeks to contribute to meeting growing housing demand by converting waste materials into useful construction products.

On sourcing raw materials, she said the research team was collaborating with organisations involved in waste collection and recycling.

She added that partnerships with waste management firms would facilitate access to large volumes of plastic waste required for the project.

Mrs Jegede noted that waste pickers and other stakeholders in the recycling value chain would play a critical role in ensuring a steady supply of recyclable materials. 

(NAN)