The French government has donated more than N500 million to five tertiary institutions in Nigeria to combat plastic pollution and encourage young researchers to develop innovative ideas for a safer environment.

Thierry Valentin, Head of Cooperation and Cultural Affairs in the French Embassy, disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

He said the project to combat plastic pollution in Nigeria, tagged the French Embassy Fund (FEF), was part of the French government’s global effort to encourage proper plastic waste management.

Mr Valentin spoke at the inauguration of the FEF Waste Management in Nigerian Campuses Project in Abuja.

He said the idea was to show the global community that the world could rid its environment of plastic waste with little or no financial resources.

“We had a lot of good projects, but these five have been selected because they are scientific and result-oriented.

“We want to face the huge question of plastic pollution here in Nigeria; the wish is to show with a few examples that it can work. We want to showcase good solutions with few resources,” he said.

Mr Valentin described the project as revolutionary, adding that it would benefit the university communities and all the areas where such an initiative was being implemented.

Chris Maiyaki, the executive secretary of the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC), described the feat as a sweet victory for Nigerian universities.

Mr Maiyaki said the project would address the perceived impression of a decline in the intellectual space affecting Nigerian universities and graduates.

“At moments like this, we have reasons to be proud of our university brand because it is a huge recognition of the tremendous work our research has continued to render.

“It is a game-changing opportunity to have the French government support research along the specifics of plastic waste disposal.

“It is a contribution to resuscitating the research culture at our universities because research is at the heart of your existence as a university,” he said.

(NAN)