Two students of the University of Ibadan (UI) have emerged winners in the French Embassy’s ‘Get Creative with Plastic’ challenge, a key component of the embassy’s Plastic Free Campus Awareness Initiative aimed at promoting environmental sustainability. The university made the announcement in a statement on Tuesday, highlighting its strong participation and leadership role in the nationwide competition.

UI was one of 10 Nigerian universities selected to participate in the initiative, funded by the French Embassy Fund (FEF) Project. The program was championed by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, and coordinated through the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships, Prof. Oluyemisi Bamgbose (SAN), with support from other senior management staff. Aina Adeogun of the Department of Zoology served as the focal person for the UI-FEF Campus Wide Initiative.

The university’s engagement in the challenge stood out among participating institutions, with over 300 students involved and nearly 100 creative submissions. This led to UI becoming the only university to produce two winners—Debbie Paul, a 300-level student from the Department of Environmental Health Science (music category), and Adekunle Akorede, a 300-level student from the Department of Physiology (writing category). The university said the recognition affirms its position as “the First and the Best” in environmental advocacy and innovation.

UI praised the collaborative efforts of its Students’ Union Executive Committee, the Directorate of Public Communication, and the Information Technology and Media Services Unit in mobilizing wide participation. The university noted that the awards not only reflect the creativity of its students but also its sustained commitment to tackling plastic pollution and advancing environmental education.