The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) says it is taking environmental education to primary and secondary schools in the state.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Managing Director of LAWMA, Mr Ibrahim Odumboni, made available to the Press on Tuesday, November 22, 2022, in Lagos.
Odumboni said that the education was important to inculcate the tenets of effective waste management into the younger generation to create a healthy future for all.
“Our main aim in embarking on massive school advocacy is to raise the next generation of citizens who understand the place and importance of effective waste management and environmental sustainability in society.
“We cannot afford to be nonchalant about this because the future is at stake,” Odumboni said.
He said that LAWMA, with other stakeholders such as the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB), was on a mission to create environmental awareness in all primary and secondary schools.
He added that the aim was to change the narrative of waste and environmental management in Lagos State.
“One of the objectives of LAWMA Academy is to raise the next generation of solid waste management scholars and entrepreneurs.
“This is achieved by providing students with a variety of individualised and creative learning experience in waste management.
“We do this through our School Advocacy Programme (SAP) that delivers waste education and sensitisation to students in primary and secondary schools in Lagos State,” Odumboni said.
He emphasised the need for parents and guardians to encourage their children and wards to embrace the culture of recycling, waste sorting at the point of generation and containerisation.
He added that habits formed in tender years would be difficult to abandon.
Odumboni said the task of keeping Lagos clean remained a collective responsibility, where all stakeholders were expected to play their roles to establish a consistent clean environment.
He said that the Authority had visited six schools at Lagos Island Local Government Area for its ongoing school advocacy programme.
Odumboni listed the schools to include Ebute Elefun Nursery/Primary School, Anglican Girls Seminary School, Christ Church Cathedral School, Tinubu Methodist School, St. Mary’s Convent School, and St. Mary Girls.
By Fabian Ekeruche
