The President of Ekimogun Youths Connect, Comrade Famakinwa Lucaskakaki has described plantain stems as an economic game changer that is waiting to be harnessed for the good of Ondo city and Nigeria as a whole.
According to a statement signed by the group’s Publicity Secretary, Oyedun Blessing, the President made this revelation during a meeting between leaders of the group, community stakeholders and representatives of the Climate Actors for Innovations and Sustainability (CAIS).
It read “The President described the plantain stem in Ondo City as a largely untapped economic resource with immense potential, comparable to a new form of “oil” awaiting strategic exploration and sustainable utilization.
“He made this assertion during a strategic engagement between Ondo youths, stakeholders and representatives of the Climate Actors for Innovations and Sustainability (CAIS), led by Mr. Akinmolayan Akintunde.
“The meeting provided a moment of insight, revealing the possibilities of transforming plantain residue into eco-friendly alternatives to singleuse plastic packaging under the PURE-WISE project with funding from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP).”
Comr. Lucaskakaki expressed pride in the partnership between Ekimogun Youths Connect and CAIS, emphasizing ongoing plans to convert plantain pseudostem into biodegradable paper and other eco friendly products in the community.
“In the coming months, Ondo will witness the establishment of one or two companies dedicated to converting plantain stems into sustainable packaging solutions.
“This initiative will not only create employment for our youths but also empower them to become wealth creators.”