The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), Lagos State Chapter, on Saturday, March 30, 2024, embarked on a clean-up of Darosha Market and drainage systems in Agege, Lagos.
Mrs Atinuke Owolabi, Chairman, APWEN, Lagos Chapter, said the initiative was in commemoration of the World Water Day and Sanitation.
Owolabi said the exercise was also in collaboration with the office of Drainage Services, Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources.
World Water Day is a United Nations observance day held annually on March 22 to highlight the importance of fresh water.
The day is used to advocate the sustainable management of freshwater resources.
The theme of the 2024 World Water Day is: “Water for peace.”
Owolabi noted that the initiative to clean the market and other densely populated markets within the states was to pave the way for a cleaner and healthier community, towards a sustainable future.
The APWEN chairman said the theme of the global celebration suggested that water must be free from any form of diseases in any environment.
“This means that if a drainage system is blocked, then water is still not for peace.
“With the clearing of the drains ahead of the rainy season, there would be free flow of water directly into the canal to prevent flood and keep everyone at peace.
“This would also prevent the residents from contracting water borne diseases that flow into their boreholes from contaminated waters flowing around,” she said.
Owolabi noted that as female engineers and mothers, they believed that there should be a clean and healthy environment for the people.
According to her, APWEN mobilises its young female engineers who are assigned to champion the Sustainable Development Goal six (SDG 6) through the task.
“We are here to sensitise the traders that the responsibility of attaining a cleaner and healthier community begins with them as individuals,” she said.
Owolabi said that the association would replicate the exercise in other markets within the state, such as Ketu, Mile 12 and Lagos Island and also sustain the initiative.
She appreciated APWEN members for coming out to join the movement and also the Office of Drainage Services, Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources for their support.
The association also donated industrial waste bin to the market to help dispose of their waste properly.
Ms Feyisetan Oluwaseun, Coordinator, APWEN Young Engineers, said the association had sensitised the traders to how to effectively sanitise the market and the dangers of not doing so.
Oluwaseun promised that APWEN representatives would come back to assess the level of the traders’ compliance to its counsel and report back to the government for necessary action, if there was any default.
The Babaloja (Leader) of the market, Mr Abiodun Afolabi, thanked the association for the intervention and donation.
He urged other sister organisations to follow suit, to achieve a cleaner and healthier environment.
By Rukayat Adeyemi
