Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, FAS, on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, performed the official turning of the sod for a Circular Glass Innovation Hub.
The project which is situated at the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, according to the Vice-Chancellor demonstrates the University’s commitment to the actualization of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Eleven which focuses on creating “Sustainable Cities and Communities” while also pursuing the UNILAG 25-year Development Plan.
Speaking at the official turning of the sod ceremony at the Boardroom of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Lagos, Prof. Ogundipe who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Development Services, Professor Ayodele Atsenuwa also identified the Glass Innovation Hub as one debuting UNILAG’s obligation to align with the United Nation’s declaration of the year 2022 as the International Year of Glass.
While using the opportunity to welcome students back on campus after the eight-month ASUU strike, Prof Atsenuwa challenged both teaching staff and students to explore research opportunities especially in the Green areas. She also assured them of the university’s readiness to support every laudable innovation through the Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Centre (ESDC).
The Circular Glass Innovation Hub, according to the Chairman, Board of Trustees of Arcline Beehive Design Foundation, Architect Adeolu Okulaja, is a 200-square-meter building which will comprise 2 floors and a terrace, he said the project will serve as a Glass Innovation Centre, Glass Research Centre and Glass laboratory.
Arc. Okulaja adjudged the Glass Innovation hub a testimony of collaboration among partners namely; the United Nations Information Centre, the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, the International Finance Corporation and the University of Lagos. He said the partnership is geared towards championing and promoting Green building in Nigeria through the Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) approach.
In her keynote message, the Founder, Director and Lead Architect of Studio Elemental Architecture, Architect Stephanie Adisa Theuretzbacher gave thumbs up to the management of UNILAG for looking beyond knowledge creation and keying into the main objectives of the U.N ’s International Year of Glass.
The Glass Innovation Hub according to the Austrian, is meant to push the boundaries and promote the creation of safe, green environment thereby proffering sustainable solutions to environmental challenges.
When completed, Architect Stephanie Adisa Theuretzbacher affirmed that the hub will be the first of its kind not only in Lagos but also in Nigeria with outstanding features such as, the use of Glass as main building material, full reliance on Green Energy, Zero Co2 emission and flexibility in optimization.
There were remarks by the Dean, Environmental Sciences, Prof. Modupe Omirin and the Director, Research Management Office, Prof. Timothy Nubi, the duo adjudged the event an awareness effort to promote the use of Glass as a sustainable building material.
They also warned against the culture of indiscriminate and indecent waste disposal as well as the sustained use of non-degradable materials particularly in buildings.
Highpoint of the event was the formal laying of the foundation blocks for the Circular Glass Innovation Hub as performed by Prof. Ayodele Atsenuwa who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe at the event.
