Environment: NGO unveils first safety club for pupils in FCT

To promote the protection of the environment, an Abuja based Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Sure Smiles Women and Children Initiative (SSWCAI), at the weekend launched the pioneer environmental health and safety club for pupils in LEA primary schools, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

According to the NGO, the unveiling of the environmental and health safety club advocacy programme tagged ‘My environment, my pride’, was in collaboration with the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), Parks and Recreation Department of the FCTA and the Federal Ministry of Environment respectively.

In her opening address at the formation and launch of the club held at the LEA Primary school, Iddo Sarki community, in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), in the FCT, the Founder and Coordinator of the Initiative, Mrs. Chioma Uzo-Udegbunam, said the organisation has gotten approval to establish a total of 100 clubs around the LEA primary schools in FCT.

According to her, the formation of the club is part of its activities towards promoting the wellbeing of school children and the residents of FCT at large.

She added that the Initiative, since its inception in 2013, has been working towards tackling poverty among women and children in the nation’s capital.

On her part, the immediate past acting director, AEPB, Mrs. Aishat Adebayo, who noted that environment plays critical role to human survival, said the formation of the club would serve as strong basis for building good hygiene practice among school children.

Adebayo, delivered a key note address on behalf of the Director, FCTA Department of Parks And Recreation, also stressed the need for all to imbibe the habit of good personal hygiene, starting from the level of children in the FCT.

She therefore urged members of the newly found club, to take its message to their families and friends, who are not members of the club.

Similarly, representative of the AEPB,  Zainab Umar, described the programme as a good initiative that would empower children to adequately protect the environment.

She however decried that the actions of human beings have continued to affect the environment negatively, hence the need to check the trend through strong advocacy programme.

Not left out, the Chief of Iddo Sarki, Alh. Bello Sarki, who expressed joy over the decision of the stakeholders to kick off the pioneer environmental advocacy initiative with children in the community, also assured them of his support, in order to achieve its objective.

High point of the event was the investiture of the matrons of the club, flag-off of tree planting project as well as the unveiling of the club’s plague inside the premises of the LEA Primary School, Iddo Sarki.