By: Akeem Salami
The Ondo State Waste Management Authority, in partnership with the National Youths Service Corp, NYSC, has sensitized and carried out National Sanitation to raise awareness about cleanliness and environmental sustainability.
The sensitization declared by the Ondo State government to the public through the Commissioner of Environment, Hon. Oseni Oyeniyi that all traders must cultivate the habit of bagging their waste before disposal.
Hon. Oyeniyi made the statement to the public during the National Sanitation exercise at Democracy Park, Oba Adesida Road on Saturday, 1 June 2024, in Akure.
Addressing the public on the need to clean their environment, the General Manager of the Ondo State Waste Management Authority, who was represented by the Director of Enlightenment and community mobilization, Mr. Oyetomi Akintunde, stressed the importance of a clean environment and the danger of a filth atmosphere.
The GM, who described the success of the exercise for having no fewer than 500 Corps members who participated in the exercise, said the programme availed an opportunity to sensitize and inform the dwellers about the significance of quality and state of practising cleanliness in the surroundings.
According to him, “We were able to sensitize the market women, dwellers, passersby, and Okada riders on the need to keep their environment clean and the health hazards of a dirty environment.”
Akintunde stated that the Corps members, who were thoroughly assessed, demonstrated how to clean the environment, starting from the Democracy Park and expanding to Oshodi Market, Isolo Market, Adedeji Market, Ori Ejuru Market, Odopetu Market, the motor parks, Cash Old, and along Adesida and Arakale road.
Speaking on behalf of the National Youths Service Corp officials, Mr. Samuel Pepple, the Ondo State NYSC coordinator, stated that one of the cardinal core programmes of NYSC is community development, hence emphasising the importance of the health initiative programme among dwellers is essential in the development of the community.
Pepple said, “The partnership between Ondo State waste management and NYSC for a clean-up initiative was evidence of the commitment to ensure our environment is healthy.
The Waste management and NYSC officials, who moved around the entire market of Akure metropolis along with the corp members to inform the entire public, also sensitized the public, especially the traders on the need to keep their environment clean.
Narrating the assessment of the National Sanitation exercise, Pepple, said, “the exercise has been a successful one, I can assure you that but there is still room for improvement because we need to do more collaboration and more sensitization even with the road safety and some security agencies, civil defence so that when we move to nook and cronies, they will lead in order for motorists and Okada riders to comply during the process.”
In attendance were the Director of the waste management operation, Mr. Amadu Abiola, the Deputies, environmental health assistants, including the NYSC coordinator and NYSC officials.
