The Federal Ministry of Environment has revealed its intention to create a sustainable future for environmental sanitation practices in Nigeria by breathing life into the evaluation of students’ knowledge on environmental sanitation and hygiene.
The Ministry while stating that the evaluation would help the Nigerian students in strengthening their knowledge of the importance of personal hygiene, a clean environment and a lifestyle that protects climate as well as enhancing their critical thinking skills on environmental sanitation issues, said the essence of environmental sanitation is to develop and maintain a clean, safe, healthy and pleasant environment in all human settlements, and promote the social, economic and physical well-being of the populations.
Director, Pollution Control and Environmental Health, Ministry of Environment, Mr Olubunmi Olusanya in a speech at the “2024 National Environmental Sanitation Day Junior Secondary School Quiz Competition” held in Abuja on Tuesday said: “Therefore, I, urge you to use this opportunity to showcase your knowledge and know that every question is a privilege to learn and grow as an agent of change. At the end of this event, please take the message, (“Go Greener, Stay Clean, Climate Change is Real” ) to your respective schools, homes and everywhere you go.”
Olusanya while urging the student to keep their environment clean at all times, stressed that the current outbreak of cholera in the country is a consequence of poor sanitation and hygiene practices.
He said Environmental Sanitation practices such as regular cleaning of the environment would help to prevent the spread of germs and illnesses.
He said: “Let me use this opportunity to express the Ministry’s appreciation to the Federal Ministry of Education, the management and teachers of the schools participating in this quiz competition for their dedication to nurturing the next generation of leaders and change-makers. Our gratitude also goes to Breakthrough Action Nigeria for their unwavering support towards making today’s event a success.”
Representative of Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Mailafiya Danlami Hassana explained that the quiz competition on ‘’Environmental Sanitation and Hygiene, and Climate Change’’, is to help the students reflect on the significance of sanitation and hygiene practices.
Mrs Danlami said Environmental Sanitation and Hygiene are not just words, but pillars of a healthy and sustainable life.
