The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) youth corps members on Saturday swept and cleaned streets, markets, schools and other important public places across the state and sensitised the people of the town on the importance of clean and neat environment.
The theme of the 2021 NYSC National Environmental Sanitation Day was “Clean Environment/Good Hygiene: Panacea for Good Health and Long Life”.
At Ido-Osun in Egbedore Local Government Area of the State, the youth corps members cleaned the palace of the traditional ruler of the town, the Oludo of Ido-Osun kingdom, Oba Aderemi Adedapo, the Oju Oja (main market) and the major streets in the town.
The monarch, his chiefs and the people of the town were excited as they watched the corps members with delight while cleaning their environment.
The NYSC Coordinator in the state, Ayodele Adewale Adegoke flagged off the National Environmental Sanitation excercise on behalf of NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim.
He said the initiative which is taking place simultaneously across the country was part of the community service initiative in terms of social responsibility of NYSC to give back to the society and make impact on the lives of people in various communities.
He said this informed the decision of NYSC to organised a National Environmental Sanitation to clean the streets and important places and to educate people to take care of their environment so as to prevent infectious diseases.
Adegoke said the environmental sanitation is a call to duty for every member of the community as it will promote cooperation and enhance community wellness.
He said the exercise is one of the several ways the scheme is giving back to the society and also exemplifying her motto of ‘service and humility’.
According to him, “the exercise will help to reduce diseases and hazards associated with poor hygiene and unclean environments. Efforts must be made by all to ensure public health and well-being of the people through proper sensitisation of members of the community on the importance of proper hygiene, consumption of clean and safe food and water, minimising the spread of diseases by avoiding the frequent touching of the eyes, nose and mouth and the importance of maintaining a clean and hygienic environment at all times.”
The Director-General commended the efforts of those who have participated in the exercise in the past, as the enormous impact of the program is not one to be forgotten so soon. He thanked the State Government, traditional rulers, community leaders, Staff of the scheme and Corps members for their selfless efforts and contributions to ensuring that people live in a healthy and safe environment.
The NYSC Director in charge of Community Development Service and Special Projects, Alhaji Abdulrazak and the Monitoring Officer, Mrs Bunmi Afolayan expressed gratitude to Oba Aderemi for supporting the scheme.
He said when NYSC organized free medical treatment for rural dwellers recently, it was discovered that the major ailment among them was malaria and that dirty environment and poor hygiene contributed to it hugely.
Salawu in noted that the initiative came about as a result of the scheme’s findings from the recently concluded NYSC Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers, that most of the illnesses resulted from the unclean and unhygienic state of most of the rural communities. Hence, the need for the scheme to take the initiative and become the leading light in showcasing the importance of keeping a clean and healthy environment.
He charged all corps members in the state to remain resolute in committing themselves to national integration and development which is a major mandate of the scheme.
The elated monarch lauded NYSC for the initiative and commended the youth corps members for their dedication to the national service through the scheme.
Oba Adedapo said NYSC remains very relevant to national development particularly to strengthen unity among citizens and to further promote the spirit of community service among the youths.
The sanitation exercise which took place across all the 30 Local Governments areas recorded great success. In Osogbo Local Government Area, the various CDS groups Sanitized various market places, media establishments like the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC), Montessori Schools as well as conventional ones were cleaned. Streets, creeks and various areas that served as host to corps members were totally sanitized.
In Olorunda Local Government Area, the exercise began right from the Secretariat to the popular Igbonna market area to various other locations. The exercise witnessed the full participation of corps members, NYSC Staff and community leaders and their members thereby making the exercise fruitful and impactful.
Other local governments the exercise covered include: Ede North, Ede South, Orolu, Ayedire, Ola-Oluwa, Ejigbo, Irepodun, Iwo, Ilesa East and West, Oriade, Atakunmosa East and West, Obokun, Ikirun, Odo-Otin, Boripe, Boluwaduro, Ila, Ifedayo, Ife Central, East, South and North, Ife East Area Office, Ayedaade, Irewole and Isokan.
Indigenes of the State lauded the management of the scheme for bringing the exercise down to the grassroots and called for the continuity of the scheme’s grassroots initiative programs.