••• Aiyedatiwa Honoured for Environmental Excellence
••• As Ondo Hosts First Sanitation Summit Outside Abuja
The Federal Government has called on the Ondo State Government to increase investment in environmental sanitation by expanding its workforce and reviving moribund waste management infrastructure.
Speaking at the World Environmental Sanitation Day Leadership Conference held in Akure on Saturday, the minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal emphasized that effective sanitation requires not just infrastructure but also adequate manpower.
Representative of the Minister of Environment, Dr. Rotimi Adeyemi, applauded Ondo state for being the first Nigerian state to host the global sanitation celebration outside Abuja, calling it a landmark achievement that sets the tone for others.
“Cleanliness, as we say, is next to godliness. A cleaner environment will lead to fewer diseases and reduce hospital visits. This calls for more trained personnel and revitalization of existing infrastructure,” he stated.
Lawal highlighted the history of a major waste treatment plant in the state, commissioned during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, comprising a metallurgy department, rubber catalyzing unit, and organic fertilizer section, which is currently non-functional.
The Minister urged the Ondo State government to reactivate the plant to stimulate economic opportunities and job creation.
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Governor Aiyedatiwa Honoured for Environmental Excellence
Conferred Fellow of US Institute for Leadership and Management
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa has been conferred with the Distinguished Fellowship Award (FCIML) and the Leadership Award of Excellence by the Chartered Institute of Management and Leadership, USA.
The award was presented during the leadership conference organized by the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria to mark World Environmental Sanitation Day in Akure.
Governor Aiyedatiwa, represented by his Deputy, Dr. Olaide Adelami, expressed gratitude for the double honour, pledging it would reinforce his administration’s resolve to pursue environmentally sustainable policies and good governance.
“This recognition reflects the work we have done and the direction we are headed. We are committed to positioning Ondo State as a model for environmental excellence in Nigeria,” he said.
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Yinka Alabi: “Environmental Responsibility is Everyone’s Duty”
Government to Acquire More Waste Trucks, Build Recycling Plants
In her goodwill address, the Chairman of the Ondo State Waste Management Board, Mrs. Yinka Alabi, underscored the importance of environmental sanitation as a key pillar of public health, economic stability, and ecological balance.
She listed several strategic initiatives under Governor Aiyedatiwa’s administration, including: Community clean-up campaigns, Market-based hygiene education programmes, Waste management innovation projects, Flood control infrastructure, and Capacity building and staff training.
Alabi revealed that the state government is in the process of acquiring more waste collection trucks and building recycling plants to boost cleanliness, generate jobs, and improve revenue streams.
“Together, we can build a cleaner, safer, and healthier environment. One action at a time, one community at a time,” she said passionately.
In recognition of her contributions, Mrs. Alabi was also decorated as a Fellow of the Environmental Health Officers at the event.
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Registrar Commends Ondo’s Proactive Environmental Policies
State Seen as Embracing Change
The Registrar and CEO of the Environmental Health Council, Dr. Yakubu Mohammed Baba, lauded Governor Aiyedatiwa for purposeful environmental governance.
He noted that Ondo remains one of the few Nigerian states that has improved waste management efforts while actively mitigating the effects of climate change.
“The state is driving forward-looking policies that embrace change and sustainability. This is commendable and worth emulating,” he added.
