French Institute Transitions Towards Sustainability With Green Initiatives

Mary Nnah

In a significant push towards environmental sustainability, the French Institute of Nigeria has embarked on a series of eco-friendly initiatives since September 2024. During a recent press conference at the institute’s Abuja premises, Deputy Director Lucille Haddad shed light on these groundbreaking efforts.

She stated that to promote eco-friendly practices, the institute has installed solar panels, set up vegetable walls around the facility, and a recycling container for plastic and cans.

She said: “All these initiatives were achieved through the Institut Vert fund secured this year and also our collaboration with organizations such as Wonderwoman Nigeria, EcoCedar, and Ekondo.”

“The commitment of the IFN to environmental stewardship aligns with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which France has fully adopted as a core element of its governmental policies.

“Every action counts whether it is reducing energy use, supporting sustainable businesses or advocating for systemic change. We recognize that climate change is a shared responsibility and a reality that affects our lives which is why we have also committed to these practices,” she added.

She also expressed concern over the rampant disposal of plastic and its detrimental effects on the environment, emphasizing that such actions exacerbate global warming.

She advocated for the adoption of sustainable alternatives to reduce carbon emissions and called on Nigerians to participate in the initiative by utilizing renewable energy sources and ensuring proper waste disposal.

One of the Partners, the Chief Executive Officer of Ekondo, Effiom Nyeh encouraged Nigerians to plant more flowers, trees and herbs in their homes and offices.

He also noted that the green initiative can be incorporated into the designs of buildings, emphasising that flowers can grow on walls rather than being always on the ground.

“The real estate boom has forced everyone to build houses where they are supposed to be building trees. With my innovation called the living wall, we can plant herbs, and flowers on the wall rather than on the ground. This will help to purify the environment for carbon emissions,” he said.

Also speaking, another partner, the Vice President of Wonder Woman Nigeria, Anne Dirkling disclosed that their innovation called ‘Plastic for Pads’ is designed specifically to eradicate plastic waste from the environment. She noted that the plastics collected are sold to raise money for sanitary pads for girls at IDP camps.

She stated: “Our Innovation called plastic for pads is designed to help save the planet from the adverse effects of global warming and to provide Pads for girls at the IDP camps. The Institut Vert fund we got aided in funding all these projects. The need to protect the environment is crucial and everybody must be involved.”