The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Oyo state has marked the National Environmental Sanitation Day as directed by the Director-General of the scheme, Brigadier General Y. D. Ahmed.
The NYSC DG earlier directed nationwide environmental sanitation to be carried out through the Community Development Service (CDS) which enables the corps members under the scheme to positively impact their host communities.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony of the nationwide environmental sanitation exercise early hours of Saturday at the popular Bodija market in Ibadan, the State Coordinator NYSC Oyo State, Mr Odoba Abel Oche said the exercise was carried out in all the 33 local governments of Oyo State.
He also said that the NYSC has a national mandate to enlighten the general public on the health risks of poor environmental hygiene.
Odoba said, “We bring greetings from the NYSC DG to the Bodija market. The new administration of the NYSC has brought back the monthly environmental sanitation. One of the tasks of NYSC is to develop rural areas. We are here to clean the market and its environs. We want the market men and women to know the need to clean before they start selling.
“On no occasion, they must start cleaning before selling. Cleanliness is next to godliness, and health is wealth. If you are not healthy, you are not wealthy. That is why we are here today. To flag off the environmental sanitation of the new administration.
“The present administration of the NYSC ably led by Brigadier Ahmed has encouraged all corps members nationwide and joined them as well to clean the environment. In Oyo state, we will join the sanitation team to clean the environment every month. We will come to join the people. We are part of the environmental team. We will be here very early to join and clean the environment.”
He noted that the exercise is aimed at achieving a clean and habitable environment as well as helping to prevent the outbreak or spread of diseases.
Odoba also expressed satisfaction with the turnout of corps members and the response of the people in the market.
He, equally stated that the nationwide sanitation exercise is an opportunity for corps members to sensitize the populace on the importance of cleaning their surroundings and avert the dangers of living in a dirty environment.
The Iyalaje of the Bodija market, Alhaja Sikirat Adebayo Oloja commended the sanitation exercise carried out and described the efforts of the NYSC scheme as a laudable initiative.
She noted that the exercise will help nurture community responsibility and the importance of a healthy environment in the minds of the corps members.
She further said the presence of the corps members would motivate the traders towards maintaining good hygiene while assuring that the efforts of the scheme to maintain a clean environment will not be compromised.
The sanitation exercise includes sweeping, emptying the waste bins and cleaning gutters in different markets in the state.
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