As part of the lined up activities to mark the World Environment Day, the Oyo State Government has launched the Clean an Green Club in schools, Tree planting and distribution of mobile toilets, with the intention of stopping open defecation in the State.
According to the State’s Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources during a walking exercise and awareness campaign with the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry, Dr. Bashir. Olanrewaju Directors of the Ministry, the need for clean environment necessitated the exercise.
He said tree planting, which kicked off from the Ministry to Oje Market in Ibadan is one of the ways of responding to the urgent need to reduce the harmful effect of global warming which has resulted to climate change.
The Commissioner, while kicking off the tree planting at Oje Market, stressed that the launching signified the footprint of what Governor Seyi Makinde had stated in transforming Oyo State and making life better for people to live in the State.
Speaking earlier at the launching of Mobile toilets and Clean and Green Club for some selected public Secondary Schools in Oyo State, held at the frontage of the Ministry, the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun revealed that the benefits of clean environment and tree planting cannot be over emphasized, hence, the reason for imbibing the ideals in the younger ones who will also pass the message to the next generation.
“This would help the present administration to transform Oyo State into a better position to attract a healthier environment and make individuals to be more creative in their thinking.”
Mrs. Adeosun equally stated that the mobile toilets would eradicate open defecation in the State and also reduce communicable diseases that may threaten individual’s life.
The Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Oyeleke revealed that the students will be encouraged to emulate cleaning and planting of trees.
“It is expected that members of this club will help to transform their respective communities as thirty three seedlings had been taken to each of the selected secondary schools which had been planted in the school premises.
“Similarly, Forestry officials and Environmental Health Officers in the respective zones of the State have been mandated to hold regular meetings with the club members and build their capacities in the area of focus.”
The Commissioner also thanked the stakeholders involved in the initiative and further noted that the environment needed to be preserved in order to sustain its value, which called for all hands to be on deck, to embrace environmental friendly practices such as waste recycling, refraining from deforestation, cleaning surroundings and also desisting from indiscriminate dumping of refuse, particularly in canals and drainages which are usually responsible for blockage of water and causing flooding.
Oyeleke stated that open defecation which has been a concern for the administration will be a thing of the past with the launching and distribution of mobile toilets to identified areas with challenges in open defecation, especially market areas, garages and other areas, stressing that the mobile toilets would assist in mitigating health challenges associated with open defecation.
