Uniben Chemical Engineering Students Win LEAP AFRICA's YLP Change Project Compet
The "Greenergy" team led by Steve Oshiokhai Eshiemogie (a 500 Level Chemical Engineering student at the University of Benin), amazed the panel of judges at LEAP AFRICA's 2020 YLP change project competion with their presentation on renewable energy and climate change, and came out first position. YLP which is an abbreviation for Youth Leadership program, is a youth-focused program organised by LEAP Africa to train young undergraduates from universities across nigeria on effective leadership and social innovation. As their entry for the competition, The Greenergy team designed and constructed a portable biodigester that converts organic waste to methane gas which can be used for cooking. This equipment was introduced to rural dwellers in Oluku village in Benin City. The team also carried out renewable energy seminars in the community were they taught rural dwellers about the negative impact of felling trees and using their logs for firewood. Speaking on behalf of the team, Steve Eshiemogie said the team believes that if the biodigester equipment is widely accepted, it could help serve as a clean alternative to the conventional firewood and kerosene fuel, presently used by villagers for cooking. Thereby reducing CO2 emmisions and preventing global warming.
