Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), a non-governmental organisation, was joined by other NGOs on Wednesday, to clean up Warri and the surroundings as part of the activities to commemorate the 2022 World Environment Day.
The participants picked refuse from Enerhen Junction through Hausa Quarter to Igbudu market under a carnival-like atmosphere.
The World Environment Day is celebrated annually on June 5.
The theme of this year’s celebration is “Only One Health,” and the event was held in Warri, Delta State.
See more photos on Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=427521572710901&id=100063591849677
Speaking with newsmen, the country director, CEPEJ, Chief Sheriff Mulade, said: “This is a day set aside by the United Nations to enable us clean our environment, use the opportunity to sensitize, educate and enlighten citizens on the dangers associated with dirt around your environment and that is why this year’s theme is ‘Only One Earth.’ You will agree with me that there is just one earth and we must agree to protect the earth that we live in for the yet unborn generation.”
Speaking further, he said it is a week long programme and this is just the first day that the programme kick started, adding that as a civil society organization, they cannot do it alone stressing that they need partnership with other bodies and the government to support in cleaning the environment as government cannot clean the environment alone.
He appreciated the market women for cooperating with them in bringing out dirt thereby making the movement easier than expected and also thanked the government for partnering with them through the various local government areas in the state and giving them an enabling environment to operate freely.
Sanitarian Margaret Adahosa, official of Warri South Local government council, while addressing the market women, said that a clean environment would breed a healthy nation adding that it is a synergized activity whereby everyone comes together to make it work.
She said they have made a positive impact today in the environment, people living in it and also in the life of the market women in order to keep the environment fit and free of cholera and other deadly diseases.
Other organizations present at the World Environment Day included: Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Delta State Civil Organization Forum, (DENGOF), officials of Uvwie and Warri South LGAs, among others.
World Environment Day 2022 is the biggest international day for the environment. Led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and held annually since 1973, it has grown to be the largest global platform for environmental outreach. It is celebrated by millions of people across the world.
Story By Loveth Ojogun | Photos by Samuel Abai
Support Quality Journalism in the Niger Delta Region
Join us in our mission to bring development journalism, cultural preservation, and environmental awareness to the forefront. Your contribution makes a difference in the lives of the people of the Niger Delta. Donate today and be a part of the change!
