Oando Foundation and the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) through a project tagged ‘Clean Our World’ (COW) engaged in the clean-up of a community in the Ilasamaja area of Lagos State on Thursday, 15th April 2021.
The activities were also supported by Lagos-Isolo Lions Club 404 B-1 led by their President, Mrs. Deola Olatunbosun; African Clean-up Initiative (ACI); members of the community on Baale Street.
Oando Foundation and Sumitomo Chemical have expanded the scope of partnership by initiating this project aimed at promoting environmental education and sustainable action for pupils in target schools and host communities in Lagos State, with Nigerian Conservation Center (NCF) as the implementing partner.
The COW project creates awareness about environmental issues and responsible practices, empowers children and teachers in 7 public primary schools and their host communities with the knowledge of plastic recycling and waste management, whilst encouraging the adoption of eco-conscious lifestyles.
It is estimated that Nigeria generates over 32 million tons of solid waste annually of which 30% is plastic.
There is increased flooding across cities during the rainy season due to clogged drainage systems, directly attributable to poor waste disposal techniques.
Education is an essential element of the global response to environmental sustainability. It helps young people understand and address environmental issues, encourages changes in their attitudes and behaviour, and helps them adapt to climate change-related trends.
They Created awareness on recycling, environmental responsibility and sustainability that will help explain, inform, motivate, persuade, and encourage beneficiaries in target schools and communities to embrace behavioral changes necessary for long-term impact.
The exercise is part of planned initiatives to create awareness and sensitize community members about the COW project, whilst promoting cleanliness and proper waste management practices. Blocked drainages were decluttered, surroundings swept clean, and accumulated waste properly sorted and disposed of. We also provided sanitation materials to the community youth group, to encourage the practice of periodic community clean-up.
So far through the COW project launched in October 2020, the following have succeeded in training 121 teachers and community members on climate change and waste recycling , recycling 384Kg of plastic waste and proceeds from plastic buyback used to support beneficiary schools, improving teaching, and learning delivery, Engaging in environmental education and proper waste management awareness creation done in 3 communities in Lagos State – Mushin, Ilasamaja and Orile Iganmu, donatingof Climate Change Teaching and Learning Materials across 7 schools in Lagos State to support knowledge transfer at the schools and community levels and lots more.
