With the world doing everything to save people and the planet from human activities contributing to environmental degradation and climate change, IITA organized its first-ever Green IITA Week (#GreenIITAWeek) with activities and lectures propelling people to “think and live green.” The event, which took place from 26 to 30 September, was anchored and driven by IITA Corporate Services, including the Forest Center, Facilities Management Services, HOSTRAS, IITA School, and the Waste Museum, Ibadan.
The event took off with awareness raising at the IITA gate. Colorful models modeling fashion attire made from waste made impressionable sights to everyone arriving at the campus. Placard-raising staff members displayed environmental conservation messages to inspire the green initiative in people. Seminars during the week challenged everyone to consider the impact of their daily choices on environmental protection and sanity. The Head of IITA Facilities Management Services, Waheed Quader, enjoined everyone to explore alternative energy sources that reduce power consumption. His insightful presentation highlighted IITA’s current energy consumption and why everyone should think and go green.
IITA Agricultural Economist and Circular economy expert Feleke Shiferaw said the World Economic Forum (2021) estimates that more than 100 billion tons of resources enter the global economy every year (metals, minerals, fossil fuels, and biomass). He proposed the development of new value chains that fit biological materials into the industrial value chain to minimize the volume of raw materials and energy used per economic activity. I-House Food and Beverage Manager Funmi Joe-Oka vividly depicted the effect of food waste on the hungry and less privileged, urging drastic measures to curb food waste and repurpose leftovers to save food.
Waste Museum Founder Jumoke Olowookere, whose mission is to create a sustainable world without waste, engaged school children from IITA International School and Forest Center’s School Conservation Clubs (SCC) in waste-to-wealth creation activities. Cartons, nylon, paper, tins, fabric, and other waste collected in selected portions of the IITA campus in 2 to 3 weeks, were reused by the school children to create beautiful artwork, jute bags, fashion wreaths, carnival attire, and wreath medals, among others.
To wrap up the week’s activities, IITA school children preached the conservation message through captivating songs to save Mother Earth. Afterward, participants participated in a campus-wide carnival procession, displaying colorful art pieces, fashion wreaths, and other wares created from waste amid music and dancing. The week inaugurated 12 IITA Green Ambassadors, who have contributed immensely to keeping our earth greener for healthy living. Winners of the daily quiz also received pleasant rewards for their efforts.
The first #GreenIITAWeek recorded participation from green lovers. The organizers anticipate increased engagement from the IITA community in subsequent celebrations, with more ingenious ways to get all hands on deck to keep our earth cleaner, greener, and livelier.
Contributed by Folake Oduntan and Victoria Adabale
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