The PlastoGas Hub of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) is equipping students with practical skills in waste-to-energy technology, research and innovation.
The Team Leader of the Hub, Dr Lauretta Ofodile, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.
Ofodile said the facility, launched in January, had become a practical demonstration and skills-acquisition centre for sustainable technologies.
She described PlastoGas as a plastic-to-gas and upcycling facility designed to reduce plastic waste and promote environmental sustainability.
According to her, the facility enables students to gain practical experience in plastic waste collection, sorting, shredding, processing, gasification and energy recovery.
“Students have the opportunity to interact with actual equipment and processes rather than learning only from textbooks or laboratory simulations.
“This gives them practical understanding of how waste-to-energy technologies work,” she said.
Ofodile said the Hub had also become a platform for student research and innovation, including final-year projects on plastic-to-gas conversion.
She explained that students could conduct experiments, collect data, develop prototypes, identify environmental challenges and explore technological solutions with wider applications.
The team leader said the facility promoted interdisciplinary learning and entrepreneurship by enabling students from various technical and scientific backgrounds to test innovative ideas.
She said the training also helped students understand the economic value of waste and acquire practical knowledge relevant to the emerging green economy.
According to her, students are exposed to renewable energy, waste management, circular economy, fabrication, process operation, environmental sustainability and product development.
“Most importantly, PlastoGas is helping to bridge the gap between education and employable technical skills.
“Students are learning not only what waste-to-energy technology is, but how it works and can be applied,” she said.
Ofodile said the Hub was evolving into a living laboratory, innovation centre and hands-on training platform for preparing students for the emerging green economy. (NAN)
