It was a display of recycled products such as flower vases, dustbin packs, christmas tree, etc. put together by Exotic Green Gold Foundation, in collaboration with The Office of The Counsellor representing Ward K Amuwo Odofin LGA. The event, which marked the second anniversary of the foundation, was tagged, “Recycling, A viable option for sustainable environment”. It had in attendance, Hon Akinwumi Ogunshina, Counsellor, Ward K, Amuwo Odofin LGA, Ayodele Adewale, Former Chairman, Amuwo Odofin LGA, Mr. Taiwo Ade, of Recyclepoints, Nigeria, Mrs. Olaleye Jirinsola, representative of General Manager, LASPARIC, Members of Spinal chord injuries Association of Nigeria led by its Chairman, Mr. Obioha Onomogbu, a good number of residents, including men and women and persons living with disabilities.

National coordinator of Exotic Green Gold Foundation, Dr Chinyere Ogbonna, disclosed that the NGO was floated to correct the high level of ignorance of people towards the environment and also in honour of her late husband, Engr. Sam Bebo Ogbonna who is also known as “Mr. pick it up”, and trash properly. One who believed in the cleanliness and betterment of the environment, Hence, better environment better option, BEBO idealogy was adopted by the foundation.

According to her, many unfriendly behaviours have polluted the wnvironment, impoverished the soil, polluted the air and SEAS and endangered wildlife and marine species.

Dr. Ogbonna said the creative industry can be boosted, and sustainable development achieved through recycling. She explained that, “This foundation wants to show the general public through the colloquium on waste to wealth exhibition that our number one environmental nuisance< the nylons and plastic can be reused, creating worthwhile recycled products to generate income, serve as aesthetics and also make the environment cleaner.

“We want our youths to know that there are pounds and dollars in our streets which can be seen by few eyes. Again, in this country, there are few jobs but there are opportunities for work and self development through skill acquisition of which recycling is part.”

She said the event was in commemoration of 2018 world’s environment themed, “Beat plastic pollution.” In this regard, the foundation put more than 200 waste baskets in Festac Town, regretting that only a few were still available due to the unusual unfriendly environmental behaviours of the people.

She said the foundation had been given permission by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to organise the Public, Primary School Clean Environment Competition and is waiting on the local government to kick it off.

Speaking on the NGO’s 2019 plan, the author of “We and Our environment noted that, “We hope to improve the environment status of Spinal chord Centres in Amuwo Odofin with a donation of grass trimmers/mower, fumigation cans and pesticides, and adorn the premises with beautiful plants and flowers in the first quarter of 2019.”

“We want to also organize public lecture on better environment, better option. BEBO ideology come April she said.”

Chairman, House Committee on Legislative Matters in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area and the councillor representing Ward K in the local government, Adewumi Ogunshina, said the environment had become better since the new council chairman took over.

He explained that the former chairman, Comrade Ayodele Adewale, also did a lot on issues of the environment in the area during his tenure. He advised residents to operate under a cleaner environment and not dump refuse in unauthorised places.

The former chairman, Adewale, said the environment must be sustained. He admonished residents to work towards the preservation of the environment. “With a growing population of human beings on this planet, it requires a lot to keep it real, which involves felling of trees, cutting of grasses and other things.

Since there is no other planet that can provide for us like planet Earth, it means that we must try as much as possible not to hurt nature because, when you hurt nature, you are also hurting yourself.

“This is why we have programmes like this to make sure that people are aware of the dangers ahead, if we mismanage our environment.”

Adewale noted that one of the greatest dangers to the environment was littering the place with nylons and plastics.

According to him, nylons and plastics would not degrade, and it was better to use paper bags that were degradable than to use chemical products that do not degrade.

“And, more so, there are organisms or animals that will mistake them for food, such as tortoises, fish and what have you.

You can imagine if the fishes eat more of that, what would happen to humans that eat the fish? How do we balance the ecosystem? If we don’t take care of our environment, we are all dead.

Look at what is happening in some states of the country, where flood has sacked people from their homes. We must take care of the environment,” he said.

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