In Goma, the issue of waste management is a major challenge for the environment and public health. In this context, the University of Goma (Unigom) recently launched an ambitious project aimed at transforming this waste into useful resources, marking a turning point in the fight against pollution and the degradation of the local ecosystem.
Launched in collaboration with a project incubator, this innovative initiative is intended to be a concrete response to the environmental challenges facing the city of Goma. Indeed, the region suffers from a deficit in research and technological innovation in the field of waste management, as well as a lack of sustainable solutions for their recovery.
Faced with these alarming findings, Unigom has decided to position itself as a driver of innovation by promoting projects capable of transforming these challenges into opportunities. Under the leadership of Professor Anselme Kitakya, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and coordinator of the project incubator, 15 initiatives were selected for their ability to consider waste as real raw materials.
Among these projects, some stand out for their originality and their strong potential impact on the city of Goma and its surroundings. One of them focuses on the production of a fuel based on plastic waste, thus offering an ecological and economical alternative to traditional fuels. Another project aims to valorize coffee cherry pulp, waste abundantly produced in the region, paving the way for an innovative use of this residue.
However, despite the progress made by these projects, Professor Kitakya highlights a major obstacle: the lack of financing. Indeed, to move on to the business development phase and fully realize these innovations, substantial financial resources are necessary. This is why the university is seeking the support of external partners to ensure the sustainability of these promising initiatives.
To ensure the success of these innovative projects, Professor Kitakya emphasizes the importance of strengthening collaboration between the different actors involved in waste recovery. He therefore calls for synergy between civil society, entrepreneurs and research institutions, in order to promote the emergence of sustainable and effective solutions for waste management in Goma.
Ultimately, the project to recover waste into useful resources led by the University of Goma represents a major step forward in the quest for innovative solutions for a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future. By transforming challenges into opportunities, this initiative embodies real hope for more responsible waste management and for the preservation of our precious ecosystem.