Climate Actors for Innovations and Sustainability (CAIS) is taking people through the journey of sustainable community development, climate resilience, and the use of eco-friendly alternative products.
The PURE-WISE Project Ondo, one of the initiatives of the organization is to promote reusing, upcycling, and recycling of household wastes as an innovative waste management approach.
The project is sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme Global Environmental Facility Small Grants Programme (UNDP GEF SGP)
The project not only contributes to a healthier environment, but also improves awareness about climate change, and addresses unemployment in Ondo state.
Recently, more than 100 people were trained on how to reuse, and upcycle their household wastes into useful materials, improving their livelihoods, and promoting a low-carbon environment.
This week, CAIS trained 150 individuals, drawn from different groups in Ondo East and West LGA on smart plantain sucker multiplication, and nursery management.
Also, the production of packaging material, an eco-friendly single-use plastic packaging alternative, purely from plantain and banana stems.
The training empowerment program, themed Plantain Residue as an Eco-friendly Alternative for Single-use Plastic Packaging in Ondo aligns with the PURE-WISE goals and objectives of reducing waste and promoting a cleaner environment.
The training, which took 4 days, had 2 batches, and each batch had 2 training segments.
In the first segment, the facilitator, Mr Alex Ogundipe demonstrated how one plantain or banana sucker can be cut into 6 or 7 sets, planted, and grown in nursery beds to increase their productivity.
At the end of the segments, all the participants were equipped with the basic tools needed for plantain propagation, and suckers were distributed to enable them to put into practice what they had learned.
In the second segment, Mr Miracle Dikejiaku, the facilitator for the conversion of plantain stem to paper, took the participants through the production of paper from plantain pseudostem (stem).
The segment encompasses sourcing of useful plantain stems, cutting, chemicals mixing, grinding, and moulding to produce papers.
He assured the participants that there are willing buyers for their products once they start production, and CAIS is willing to offer them market access for their products.
Furthermore, the participants were trained on how they can use their paper productions in making common items like envelopes, book covers, greeting cards, single-use packaging material etc.
The participants were very excited, appreciated CAIS for educating, and empowering them, and promised to make good use of the skills and knowledge acquired in uplifting their lives, and also impact others.
Hon. Famakinwa Lucaskakaki, Ondo West Youth leader, also a community stakeholder to CAIS, visited the participants during the training, applauded the management, and the facilitators.
He said the strength of our dear Sunshine State lies in the education of our youth, and that the future belongs to those who acquire relevant knowledge and skills that stand the test of time.
He commended CAIS for bringing the PURE-WISE project to Ondo and assured them of his continued support as a community youth leader.
He charged the participants to take the training program very seriously, as it’s a rare opportunity, and one which can help alleviate poverty.
Mr Ogundipe Alex, the CAIS Project Manager congratulated the participants for being part of this project.
He assured them that this is not going to be a one-time training and that more training programs are on the way.
Also, the participants will be added to virtual groups where continued support, guidance, and orientation will be given, he concluded.
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