INTRODUCTION

Earth Day is an international day devoted to our planet. It draws attention to the environment and promotes conservation and sustainability. World’s Earth Day is observed annually on 22^nd of April to create awareness among people about environmental protection. Every year the day is celebrated under a specific theme and this year’s theme is “Invest In Our Planet”. 

A clean environment is the key to the existence and survival of life on planet earth. Maintaining a clean environment reduces pollution, preserves our biosphere, protects endangered species and helps preserve the earth’s natural resources. A cleanup program cannot only reduce pollution, but by sorting neighborhood trash and recycling as much as possible can help to teach residents about recycling and other activities that will reduce the neighborhood carbon footprints. Cleanliness is important for it builds up a healthy environment that facilitates physical and mental well-being and growth. Every piece of trash that is taken away to be recycled or deposited in a landfill that is properly managed means there is one less dangerous item for birds, turtles or whales to swallow. Cleanups also restore these creature’s habitats. 

It is based on the foregoing that Triple Green Environmental Development Foundation (TGED Foundation) in collaboration with other stakeholders commemorate the World Earth Day 2023 with the theme “INVEST IN OUR PLANET” by organizing cleanup & sensitization programme at Oja Oba axis of Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State. The program was aimed at educating and sensitizing the people and traders in the market on how to keep our environment clean. The sensitization was also taken to the car park (Old garage) whereby the group also sensitized the drivers on how to manage their waste.  Market women and road transport workers who have been identified as the highest generators of waste in Ekiti State were sensitized in different Nigerian languages on the need for a clean and healthy environment for the betterment of the people in Ekiti State and Nigeria as a whole.

STAKEHOLDERS IN ATTENDANCE

• Ekiti State Waste Management Agency (EKSWAMA)
• National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA Ekiti State Office)
• National Environmental Safety, Regulation and Enforcement Agency (NESREA Ekiti Office)
• Ado Metropolitan club
• Ekiti Unique Leo club
• Ekiti State University Leo club
• FESSU EKSU
• JCIN EKSU

ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT

• Awareness creation & Sensitization.
•  Clean-up activities.

WELCOMING ADDRESS/ GOODWILL MESSAGES

The programme started at 9am with Mr. Omojola Odunayo representing TGED Foundation Team Lead introducing the Foundation and explaining briefly the theme of the Earth Day 2023 to everyone present at the program. He also went further to thank everyone at the program for taking time out of their busy schedule to attend the program. This was followed by goodwill messages by the representatives of some of the invited organizations.

Mr. Akinola Gbenga from NESREA in his speech addressed the people and told them waste is not a waste until it is wasted. He said it is very important to dispose of our waste properly. A properly disposed waste does not only help the environment clean, it also helps build our mental health and keep us away from deadly disease. He went further to state that when waste is not disposed properly, it can leak harmful pollutants into the air, soil and water and this can cause environmental damages as well as impacting people’s health negatively. Indiscriminate disposal of waste into drainages also causes erosion and flooding when they block the drainages rendering us homeless. Proper waste disposal helps to prevent this. 

Engr. Olofin Olaleke, the Director of Operation of EKSWAMA, in his message, appreciated TGED Foundation for organizing the sensitization programme, he also acknowledged the organization present for the cleanup/awareness programme. He went further to explain why it is necessary to keep the environment clean and how to manage our waste by disposing of them appropriately to avoid erosion and contaminating the environment, preventing blockage of the drainages during the rainy season.

All the organizations that came for the programme moves round the market, clean it up and also sensitize the traders on the importance of taking care of their environment, encouraging them to always keep their environment clean and dispose of their refuse properly.