On January 30, pupils and staff members of Wuro Chekke Primary School in Yola Town, as well as the people of the Yola community, had an opportunity to learn how to recycle and reuse waste papers to make beautiful items.
Staff members of the University’s sustainability Office were at the occasion in support of the Trash-for -Cash Initiative of an ex-Corps member, Jennifer Paul.
Ms. Paul who imbibed the lessons of waste management while serving at AUN said the aim of the project is to teach the children how they can manage waste. An inspiring session was when she taught them a song about paper recycling.
She further taught them the types of wastes that include nylon, paper, plastics, and bottles. Thereafter, she explained that it is important that they should first sort the waste items into their various categories. She then inaugurated the Trash for Cash Club where the members that include pupils and their teachers as supervisors had a demonstration of how to turn trash into cash using waste papers to make valuable items.
A staff member of the AUN Sustainability Office, Andrew Tigirke, taught the audience how waste papers can be used to make a stool.
Prior to the event kick-off, the pupils were very excited.
A Primary 6 pupil, Mohammed Yaya Kawo, said he was excited because it is an event held in their school. Perhaps he had not witnessed any such in their school before.
After the activity, Head Teacher, Mallam Dahiru Ahmed Chiroma, told the attendees that they would put into practice what was taught and will produce more stools in the school.
Secretary to Yola South LGA, Alhaji Hamidu Hamman Tukur, represented the Chairman of the LGA at the occasion.
District Head of Yola, Alhaji Muhammed Ahmed Mustafa, said the initiative is laudable as it engages pupils to be productive and responsible citizens.
Manager of Sustainability Programs, Raymond Obindu, and Sustainability Field Research Officer, Olarotimi Ogundijo, attended. Mr. Ogundijo said the Sustainability Office is proud to partner with the initiative.
“This is one of the waste to wealth innovations that the office promotes… We want to create that awareness that what they call waste can be turned into useful things. And starting from elementary school, we call them to catch them young.”
He further said the Office is determined to reduce waste in the society as much as possible.
“One of the most popular wastes that the school generates is paper. And that is why we are bringing them this awareness to make them know their used books paper can be turned into something that can last for years.”
Reported by Omorogbe Omorogiuwa