NGOs - SDGs
Gripe Engages Stakeholders On Sustainable Management Of Plastics
In furtherance of its ambition to improve plastic waste management practices in Ghana, the Ghana Recycling Initiative by Private Enterprises (GRIPE), has engaged stakeholders at a one-day workshop on the sustainable management of this resource.
At the workshop organized by the private sector coalition under the aegis of the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) Fund with support from the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), the coalition called on all stakeholders to re-think plastics, as just waste and begin to see it as a resource which has the potential to unlockenormous economic value for Ghana.
Speaking at the workshop, Mr. Seth Twum-Akwaboah, Chief Executive Officer of the AGI, underscored private sector’s commitment towards the issue of plastic waste management in the country, itsshow of leadership with the formation of GRIPE and investment in solutions to tackle post-consumer waste of the plastic life cycle.
“Our member companies are very concerned about the littering issue because we live and operate in the communities; this is one of the reasons why we formed GRIPE to manage the environmental impact of plastics. GRIPE started very small, but we are gradually growing and moving towards achieving our objectives of contributing to increased recycling rates and improving plastic waste management practices in Ghana.”, he added.
He further stated that the journey towards ensuring that plastics become a resource of beneficial value to Ghanaians rather than banning it, will involve all stakeholders playing their part to create the much-needed circular environment in the country.
Naa Ayeleysa Quaynor-Mettle, a member of the GRIPE working group and Pick-It Project Manager for FanMilk,said the benefits of plastics to health, hygiene and quality of life has proven to be enormous accounting for the exponential growth in plastic use. Regrettably, sustainable management of post-consumer plastic remains a national challenge as only 2% of the estimated yearly generation, of over one million tonnes, is recycled.
“The problem Ghana faces is not a plastics problem but a littering problem. What GRIPE seeks to achieve is to stimulate a holistic solution to support the development of a robust circular economy and to promote recycling and second life for plastics here in Ghana”, she added.
Mr. Essuman, lecturer at the Department of Food Process Engineering, University of Ghana, in a presentation to participants noted that Ghana needs a 3-pronged solution to effectively deal with the plastic menace currently confronting it.
“As a country, in order to effectively deal with the plastics waste menace, we need to have technical & engineering solutions in place, a plastic waste management system anda behavioural & attitudinal change from all of us. I believe this is what GRIPE has started and it is my hope that with the necessary support from all stakeholders, we can
The Workshop which took place at the Bank of Ghana Auditorium, University of Ghana, brought together key stakeholders in the plastic value chain including Policymakers, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the Media, Academia, industry and Development partners.
Among others, it highlighted the current regulatory requirement on the use of oxo-biodegradable additives, the benefit of plastics to food safety, and the various second-life solutions that affirm post-consumer plastics as a beneficial resource the County can be harness.
Participants were also taken through the various interventions introduced by GRIPE including, collection schemes and the Modified Concrete Project currently being piloted by GRIPE. This pilot research project employs post-consumer plastic waste in the manufacture of concrete blocks. Scientific data generated from this project is expected to influence policy formulation, further research and/or replication in other parts of the country.
About GRIPE
The GRIPE, a coalition of companies under the Association of Ghana Industries,was formed in November2017. The objective of GRIPE is to leverage the combined resources, experience and technologies of member companies to proffer sustainable plastic waste management solutions to the plastic waste challenge in Ghana. To this end, GRIPE focuses on areas such as multi-stakeholder collaboration, public education and awareness, research and data collection, and the provision of second life solutions to plastic waste. GRIPE is currently made up of 10 member companies namely
Osnon Academy, the flagship co-boarding secondary school of Chude and Ego Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to empowering low-income communities in Nigeria by providing access to quality education and healthcare, opened its doors to its maiden session today, October 9, 2023.
The school, which is located in Okwu, Awarasi Uga village, Aguats Local Government Area in Anambra State, is free to attend and is designed to empower the brightest young minds in Nigeria and enable them rise above economic and social barriers to thrive and build sustainable communities around them.
In his welcome speech to students and parents expressing his enthusiasm, Arinze Izuegbunam, Head of School at Osnon Academy stated that “Our vision at Osnon Academy is to nurture the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and change-makers. Today, as we settle our students in their new home, we embark on a journey of empowerment, resilience, and academic excellence.”
The Osnon Academy is more than just a school; it’s a beacon of hope, offering free, quality education to underprivileged students from low income communities who will rise above economic and social barriers to become the future leaders of Nigeria.
Onyinye Anyaegbu, CEO of Chude & Ego Foundation, underscored the significance of this occasion: “We believe in the immense potential of every child, regardless of their background. Osnon Academy stands as a testament to our commitment to building sustainable communities through education. We invite everyone to follow our social media platforms, where you can enquire about supporting a child’s journey towards a brighter future. By signing up and registering for our newsletter/ following our social media pages, you become part of this transformative journey, supporting us in creating lasting impact.”
“The foundation extends a heartfelt invitation to join us on this remarkable venture, as we set forth on a mission to empower, educate, and inspire the future leaders of Nigeria whilst also appreciating the tireless efforts of all members of the Chude and Ego Foundation Board and OSNON Academy Board, whose time, expertise, and financial contributions have brought this vision to life. We are also grateful to our donors and partner organizations, whose belief in our vision and support in the form of finances and products have ensured the birth and sustenance of OSNON Academy”.
To Enquire About Supporting a Child, send an email to info@chudeandegofoundation.org or Phone: 09036788674. Follow our social media handles for updates on: Facebook: ChudeandEgoFoundation; Twitter: @ChudeandEgo; Instagram: @ChudeandEgoFoundation.
NGOs - SDGs
LEAP Africa and DOW Partner to Activate Youth Action for Sustainable Development Across Africa
LEAP Africa, one of Africa’s leading non-profit organization focused on youth leadership development and Dow, a global leader in materials science, are pleased to announce the fourth edition of its Pan-African ‘Youth Day of Service (YDoS)’ campaign, a youth-led social impact campaign with the theme – Youthful and Useful.
Scheduled to be held till August 31, 2023, Youth Day of Service is a month-long campaign that seeks to foster the spirit of service to community and volunteerism among the youth population in Africa with focus on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This campaign which is in commemoration of the International Youth Day seeks to rally young people, corporate organisations, Governments, the Private and Social sectors across Africa to advocate and renew the spirit of active youth citizenship and collective responsibility.
Speaking at the Pan-African Press Conference and Stakeholders Engagement, Kehinde Ayeni, Executive Director LEAP Africa said: “One of our strategic pillars at LEAP Africa is to raise talents for the actualization of the SDGs. This campaign is a demonstration that LEAP Africa remains committed to youth-led actions for Sustainable Development across Africa. We believe in the power, voices, numbers and agency of young people and that an urgent commitment to creatively engaging with youth, creating platforms such as this and retooling youth with the skills and support to shape SDGs implementation across the continent, is the greatest need. We cannot do this alone, therefore we are fostering partnerships to bring the achievement of the goals closer.”
In her remarks, Mumbi Keega, Public Affairs Lead-Africa, Dow, said, “Dow is committed to fostering positive change and building resilient and sustainable communities in Africa. We believe that this can only be achieved by working together with the African youth, who are vital to promoting social welfare. Through our partnership with LEAP Africa, we are supporting the Youth Day of Service (YDoS) initiative, which empowers young people to use their skills and talents to make a difference in their communities. We are proud to be a part of YDoS and to support the next generation of African leaders who are working to create a more sustainable and equitable future for all.”
Chege Ngugi, Africa Regional Director of ChildFund International in his remarks called for increased investment by governments and other stakeholders in youth development programs. “While many laudable initiatives, such as national youth funds exist, there is still a dire need to do more to ensure all youth, given the huge number, are adequately resourced to achieve their best potential, no matter where they are from. We must move beyond giving the youth a seat at the table to investing in them to use that seat for good. The youth must be enabled to act as equal partners of positive social change.”
Emerging Leaders Foundation-Africa one of the implementing partners for the Youth Day of Service, represented by Caren Wakoli the Founder and Executive Director lauded LEAP Africa for investing in this initiative for the second year in Kenya. Caren noted that ELF-Africa had lined up week-long community activities across nine counties, addressing five different SDGs. She further re-affirmed ELF-Africa’s commitment to championing transformational youth action in Kenya and Africa for a sustainable future. Caren concluded by calling on young people and grassroot organisations across Kenya to join the different Youth Day of Service activities in counties near them, especially the nine counties where ELF-Africa will be working, these are Migori, Bungoma, Narok, Kericho, Uasin Gishu, Murang’a, Makueni, and Kilifi.
This year, LEAP Africa will be leveraging the support of strategic partners like ChildFund International, Emerging Leaders Foundation, BellaNaija, Forgotten Bottom Millions, Legit, Zikoko Citizen, W4 Immerse, Dotts Media, African Climate Reality Project, Strategic Youth Network for Development Ghana, Youth Development Organisation Zambia and Global Shapers Community, among others, in delivering the Youth Day of Service.
Miss Career Africa Women (Image: Supplied)
Recognizing the need to empower aspiring young female entrepreneurs in Africa, the Miss Career Africa Organization (MCA) was established. The MCA program aims to uplift young women professionals, entrepreneurs, and students by offering university scholarships, career guidance, entrepreneurship incubation, leadership training, and networking opportunities.
The Miss Career Africa competition is a transformative experience for aspiring young women entrepreneurs from across the continent. With a vision to create a movement of 450,000 young women entrepreneurs and professionals across Africa, MCA aims to empower these trailblazers to become influential leaders in their respective countries.
Each year, 20 exceptional candidates aged between 18 and 24 years are selected from hundreds of applicants based on their projects or businesses and specific criteria. These talented young women then compete for the title of “Miss Career Africa.” The journey to the crown begins with a pre-selection and online voting process. The finalists undergo a rigorous 5-day boot camp, where a team of experts helps them refine their ideas into viable and scalable business models.
The Grand Finale features a distinguished panel of judges from different countries and disciplines who will crown winners in various categories, including Miss STEM, Miss Arts and Talent, Miss Hospitality, Miss Agriculture, Miss Conservation, and Miss Speaker, as well as regional winners representing the Southern, Northern, Central, Eastern, and Western regions. Prizes for the winners include seed capital, a six-month incubation training period, and continuous guidance and follow-up support to help them turn their dreams into reality.
Meet the Visionaries
Sandrine Munezero – Executive Director of Miss Career Africa
Hail from Rwanda, Sandrine Munezero is a true innovator. As an entrepreneur, innovator, and business modeling coach, she has dedicated her life to helping the next generation create their own opportunities by harnessing their talents and gifts. Sandrine’s unwavering passion drives the growth of Miss Career Africa across the continent. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Resources Management from St. Joseph’s College in India and a Bachelor’s degree from Bishop Heber College in Trichy, India.
Portia Addae Annin – Western Africa Coordinator of Miss Career Africa
Passionate about empowering girls and young women, Portia Addae Annin is a force to be reckoned with. Her exceptional motivation and commitment to excellence have led her to serve in various prestigious positions. With a Master’s Degree in Economics from Bangalore University in India and a background in Economics and Business Management from the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, Portia brings a wealth of expertise to the organization.
