Ben Dunno, Warri
An undergraduate of Nigerian Maritime University, (NMU), Okerenkoko, Warri South-West Local Government Araa of Delta state, Promise Ebubechukwu Ikem-Nwosu, has emerged the best student globally for his environmental project proposal in a Project Green Challenge (PGC) competition, organised by a United States (US) based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO).
By this remarkable feat, the 200 level student of the Department of Marine Environment and Pollution Control in Faculty of Environmental Management in the Maritime University, has won a cash prize of 1000US dollars as support grant by the Turning Green Organisation based in California, USA, to fund his environmental proposal that qualifies him for the award.
The award recipient was among the fourteen (14) finalists shortlisted globally by the NGO for a Climate Action Project (CAP) proposal by these finalists being conducted annually as part of measures to address the global concerns on environmental degradation and pollution that are currently constituting a major threat to human existence.
Speaking with Daily Sun on the award at the NMU campus, Okerenkoko, Ikem-Nwosu, said he was able to participate in the competition through the virtual aide he was supported and encouraged with by the university management, under the leadership of Prof. Emmanuel Munakurogha Adigio, the Vice Chancellor (VC) of the institution.
According to him; “I won a Climate Action Project (CAP) funding under the Turning Green organisation which is an NGO in California, USA. I was among the 14 finalists internationally and I presented a Climate Action Project (CAP) proposal, of which I emerged best amongst the international finalists and won a cash price of a thousand US dollars to help in funding this project which I proposed”.
“And with the help of that and other grants or financial help which I hope to get from the public and my school, I’ll be carrying out a project which include buying of a Recycle receptacles to help in collecting plastics from my campus community in Okerenkoko, buying of solar panels to be installed in my school compound to help reduce the school’s overdependence on fossil fuels for daily energy”.
Said he; “I’m also expected to create an environmental awareness on the effects of plastics and fossil fuels on the Marine Environment of the Niger Delta region. These are what I proposed for my Climate Action Project that won me the award which I now see as a turning point in my life”.
On when he intend to commence work on the project, Promise stated: “I have a deadline of April next, 2022, to accomplish these projects which I’ve proposed. So I plan to begin these projects immediately I receive the funding from the organisation and other assistance from my school, and hopefully the public so as to be able to beat the deadline”,
Reacting to this remarkable achievement made by a student of the institution at an international stage, the Registrar of NMU, Dr. Alfred Mulade, described the feat performed by Promise Ikem-Nwosu as highly inspiring and commendable considering the fact that the institution was just newly established.
He noted that this kind of rare feats recorded by the student clearly demonstrates the fact that the institution places topmost priority on academic excellence and research works by supporting and creating the right enabling environment for both the students and staff to excel in their various fields of human endeavors.
He urged other students to emulate the the award recipient by applying to participate in other global competitions tof this kind that would also bring glory to them and honour to the institution.