Leading cement manufacturers in Nigeria, Dangote Cement PLC say they will continue to collaborate with Yaba College of Technology so as to drive innovation through research.
Head of Sustainability at Dangote Cement, Dr Igazeuma Okoroba stated this at the grand finale of the Yaba Green challenge held at College Hall, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos
The Yaba Green Challenge, A Dangote 2022 Sustainability Week Initiative featured a waste recycling contest and exhibition by students of Yabatech
Okoroba commended the students for their ingenuity towards creatively finding solutions to some of the developmental issues currently facing the country.
She said \”With this year\’s sustainability week, I would say we have achieved more than we expected, the innovations that have come out of here, and the level of research, as well as the passion that the students have shown tell us that social development in Nigeria is within our reach\”
As a way of sustaining the Programme, Okoroba called on YabaTech to continue to carry out cutting edge research which would further drive innovation.
She added \”This is a research institution, we want to see some of the innovations that have come out of this place make their ways into articles to be published as well as solve people\’s problems.\”
\”When people see that this innovation came from YabaTech, you would see that there will be more private sector organizations willing to come in to partner. This is something that started from research and as it is, it can create market opportunities for all parties\”
Oh his part, Rector Yaba College of Technology, Engr Obafemi Omokungbe described the partnership between YabaTech and Dangote as a very strategic and exciting one just as he added that \”talks are going on to obtain patent rights for the innovations showcased at the event\”
\”We have a Memorandum of Understanding with manufacturing companies and I am sure that this move would promote the investors as well as boost the internally generated revenue of the institution\”
Others who spoke at the event including the Dean, School of Environmental Studies, YabaTech, Dr Okesoto Oyebamiji described the partnership as one which would \”encourage the students and project them as young entrepreneurs\”
Ajide Comfort, an HND 2 Student of the Fashion Design department used pop tabs from canned drinks to make garments using the knitting and crochet method to emerge winner of the contest.
She noted that the institution and by extension, the contest has brought out the best in her.
This year\’s Yaba Green challenge was a collaboration with Yabatech School of Environmental studies and UNESCO – UNEVOC