By Ighomuaye Lucky. O
Stakeholders in the environmental sector, have drummed for a concerted efforts from all Nigerians to arresting the outbreak of cholera disease in the country.
The stakeholders from the ministry of environment and that of the education, made the call at event put together by the Managing Director, Imose Cleanings and Facility Management company, Mr. Ayo Ebome for the students of Oregbeni Estate School, Benin.
Delivering a Lecture on the topic: “Waste, sources, disposal strategies and benefits”, an environmental consultant, Mr. Ehon Godfrey, said what some group of persons see as waste, others see it as wealth adding that the need for a better waste disposal cannot be over-emphasized as it would help reduce its negative impacts in our environment.
The retired former director in the ministry of environment, who categorized wastes into domestic, industrial, commercial and others, also listed landfilling, incineration, recycling as some of the ways of disposing them.
Mr. Godfrey further urged the students to take advantage of the event to better the society as they are the future leaders of the country.
For the convener of the event, Mr. Ayo Ebome, said the event is apt because of the prevailing circumstances in the country as its grapples with the outbreak of cholera disease, stressing that the situation must be brought under control through proper disposal of waste.
On the part of the Ikpoba Okha Local Government chairman, Dr. Eric Osayande, he said waste management is not a task only for government or environmental agencies alone as it requires the active participation of every individual in the communities.
Dr. Osayande, represented by the Supervisor for Education in the local government, Mr. Obeto Bright, said awareness campaigns, educational initiative and empowering citizens, reuse and recycle can make a big difference in the area of waste management.
Osayande however called on the people of the state to compliment the effort of both the state and local governments to keep the environment clean.
Also speaking, the state Director, Policy Planning Research and Statistics, Ministry of Environment and Sustainability, Mrs. Agbonze Uche, urged the students to be an ambassador of clean environment.
Mrs. Uche who said the environment has a language of protect me, enjoy me and give back to me, added that such language must be understood and practiced by all Nigerians if we must have a clean and healthy environment.
For the Director of Shared Services, Edo State Ministry of Education, Mr. Omionawele Peter said that all hands must be on deck to keep our environment clean considering the current outbreak of cholera in some of the parts of the country that has claimed a lot of lives.
He said, worried by that, the students should be in the forefront of championing the course of a cleaner environment to stem the tide of cholera in the country.
“We are aware of what the cholera situation is in our country today and there is no gainsaying the fact that there is a proper need and it is time for us to ensure that hygiene is practiced in our schools”, Peter said.
For the Head of Department, environment, Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, Mrs. Blessing Uwadiae, she warned the students against dumping of refuse on gutters thereby blocking the water ways.
Speaking on the importance of the event to them, a student from the school, Osele Treasure, thanked the organizers, saying that she is now poised to put outside her poor attitude towards sanitation and to become an ambassador of a cleaner environment.
