By Editor
Students of tertiary institutions in Ekiti State have taken their environmental campaign to the streets of Ado-Ekiti, urging residents to adopt responsible waste disposal practices and join efforts to protect the environment from pollution and deforestation.
The students, under the Ekiti Student Skill Up with YOMA initiative, staged a sensitisation walk through the state capital to commemorate World Clean-up Day, drawing attention to the dangers of indiscriminate waste disposal and other activities that threaten the environment.
The campaign was aimed at encouraging greater public participation in environmental protection, particularly among young people and communities across the state.
The Skill Up with YOMA initiative is a digital platform and empowerment programme designed and developed by UNICEF for students in tertiary institutions across Ekiti State and Nigeria.
Speaking during the walk, Project Lead of the initiative and former Senior Special Assistant to Governor Biodun Oyebanji on Student Affairs, Miss Mary Adetiba, said protecting the environment required collective action from government, communities and young people.
Adetiba commended the students for their turnout and commitment to the campaign, urging residents to desist from activities capable of degrading the environment.
She specifically advised residents to dispose of their waste properly and avoid dumping refuse in drainage channels and waterways, noting that such practices could worsen flooding and create other environmental hazards.
She also encouraged residents to plant trees and support initiatives aimed at addressing deforestation and promoting a healthier environment.
According to her, sustained collaboration between government and citizens was necessary to achieve lasting improvements in environmental sanitation and protection.
Adetiba also commended Governor Biodun Oyebanji for his interventions in the education and youth sectors, describing them as significant contributions to the safety and welfare of students in the state.
She said the interventions had helped to promote greater awareness and engagement among young people.
Some of the students who participated in the walk said the Skill Up with YOMA initiative had positively impacted their lives by providing opportunities for personal development and empowerment.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Miss Oluwasemilore Anjorin and Mr. Joel Oladunsin described the sensitisation exercise as timely.
They said increased public awareness and responsible environmental practices would help reduce avoidable flooding and its associated challenges, while encouraging residents to take greater responsibility for the environment.
The students called for sustained environmental education and community participation to complement government efforts toward building a cleaner and safer Ekiti State.
