The Environmental Safety Awareness and Right to Healthy Living Initiative (ESAARTHLI), an NGO, has sensitized residents of Ajah in Lagos on how to sort and recycle waste to earn a living.
ESAARTHLI, in collaboration with the Addo Community Development Association (CDA), created the awareness during a cleanup exercise to mark 2021 World Environment Day with theme: “Ecosystem Restoration’’.
ESAARRHLI is an NGO aimed at improving environmental health practices through grassroots participation.
Mrs. Grace Ngowu, the President of ESAARTHLI, told newsmen that apart from sorting and recycling, the exercise would also ensure that people kept their environment clean.
Ngowu said there was need to change the attitude of people at the grassroots toward saving their environment for better living.
According to her, the event is being marked with some students from secondary schools around the Addo- Badore axis of Ajah.
“The World Environment Day is considered to be one of the most remarkable days for environmental actions and to create awareness among people.
“There is the need to sensitize the people on the essence of clean environment.
“We are encouraging the community to know that they have a part to play in the restoration of the ecosystem and to emphasize the importance of sorting and recycling to earn a living.’’
The environmentalist called on government at all levels to reiterate the importance of environmental sustainability, encourage and support NGOs that are ready to create awareness at the grassroots.
According to her, effective enforcement of environmental laws and regulations is crucial for proper management.
She urged Nigerians to imbibe the culture of voluntary service to give back to the society.
Mr. Olubukola Sunday, Addo CDA representative, appreciated the exercise and called for more collaboration with other organizations to promote and improve the environment of local communities.
“Charity they say begins at home.
“We at the community level will continue to ensure that our people keep the drains free from dirt that can cause flood in the community.
“We keep asking more organizations to with partner us to grow and expand our community.
“Especially in areas of education, environment, security and proving some social amenities which the government may not provide,’’ Sunday said.
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Also, the Cleanup Coordinator, Mr. Adewole Oludare, said that the collaboration with the organization and CDA was to inform them of the need to return the environment to its natural state.
Oludare said that the theme of the event was a call to duty to help restore the environment to its safe state without waiting for the government.
Media stated that June 5 of every year is set aside by the United Nations to celebrate World Environment Day.
Meanwhile, about 10 schools within the community took part in the exercise with We cyclers and Waste Managers to pick up the waste generated from pet bottles and cans for recycling.
The organization also shared waste bags to residents to further encourage them to bag their waste for easy pick up.
