Environment
Association Urges Women Traders To Preserve Environment
The Founder of Nigerian Quintessential Business Women Association, Mrs Shimite Katung,has urged women to strive to preserve the environment while engaged in their economic activities.
Speaking to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday, Katung also urged women to find an alternative technology to firewood that they could use as cooking fuel.
She said that the call became necessary owing to the health hazards associated with using firewood as fuel for cooking.
“We want to deal with the felling of trees and using it as cooking fuel because the smoke that comes out of it is cancerous. It also affects the lungs; it’s also not good for the eyes in the long run even though people like that smoke of firewood.
She stated that the health disadvantages were huge for just to get your jollof rice smelling like smoke. The smokes smell into the rice, fine; but is not worth the health hazards and we would also want to find the alternatives that the women can use.
“We have found an alternative that cost 3,000 naira; you have heard about it the clean stove thing; somebody here does that; so we will just link up with him and find out what his network is.
If he does not have a network up to the local government level, we do. So, we see how the women can contribute N200 to a point where they can take the stove.
“While we continue to tell them the disadvantage of using the fire firewood both to the environment to their homes and all of that.“
Katung said that tree planting can not only enhance the environment but also create economic values
“We want to do tree planting. There is this tree that grows in two years; the seeds are from Brazil and they come out very strong.
“You can use it for furniture and all of that; so when it is planted today, in two years, it can be harvested; you can continue to replant. So they will happily plant it knowing the cost when is felled; so I want something that will make some economic sense.
“It is for profit, so everything we are going to do must make some economic sense to enable you tap from it.“
She said that since the theme of this year’s World Environment Day was about avoiding waste, parents, teachers, and children should be proactive about it.
“We have agreed that there is no such thing as waste if you can turn it to cash whether is newspapers you need to know how to sort it out. Sort out bottles differently, bottle covers differently plastic differently.
“There are existing companies that receive some of these things but also there are monies from different banks with a good business plan.
“They will be able to give you money but one part that the bank missed which the women need to understand is the up-takers.
According to Katung, an up-taker is the person who will buy what you have she said. It was good to find our up-taker before the time.
For broken bottles, she advised women to approach Pepsi, Coca Cola etc and find out.
“Find out if they are up-takers for broken bottles.
“ So we need to find up-takers take on what you want to do nylon factories find your up-taker most banks will take you on that.
“For the children I think from early they need to teach them value of keeping their environment clean. They need to be thought sorting out dirt the right way and knowing that some of these can be used for manure it can be reused again.
“Every time you use a paper again you save a tree so some of these has to be inculcated. So for me I am not really into the children but the teachers and the parents because whatever you dish is what the children absorb as their way of life.
“For the teachers I think they should take some time to know what is happening; they should take time to find out what people are doing.
“You cannot sit down and complain about something they have just solved yesterday because you did not make an effort to find out what it is.
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) on Thursday, launched an awareness campaign, aimed at educating residents on the increasing impact of climate change.
The campaign also seeks to enlighten residents on the urgent need for personal and community protection measures.
During the launch in Uyo on Thursday, the Akwa Ibom Director of NOA, Mr Mkpoutom Mkpoutom, said that the campaign aims at enlightening residents, about the changes in weather patterns.
He said that this includes unpredictable rise in temperatures, and how these changes threaten public health across the state.
Mkpoutom noted that the current weather was not harmattan, but an extreme form of air pollution, which is harmful to health as it could cause oxidative stress which affects body balance.
“Our environment is changing rapidly, and the effects are evident in the disruptions faced by our communities.
“It is paramount that every citizen of Akwa Ibom understands these changes and take necessary steps to protect themselves, their families, and their livelihoods,” he said.
He appealed to citizens to take the following precautions which include wearing of nose mask, drinking sufficient water, covering of food and water to keep away dust, washing fruits thoroughly before eating, among others.
He directed all NOA structures within the state to engage with local communities through town hall meetings and collaboration.
He also urged engagement with schools and community leaders, to disseminate vital information on early warning signs, as well as safety protocols during extreme weather conditions.
The Chairman of Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State, Ms Surah Animashaun, has urged traders of Aiyetoro and Oluwo fish markets to consistently ensure a hygienic trading environment.
She urged the traders to maintain cleanliness and observe proper environmental sanitation in the markets.
Animashaun said this during a visit to some of the market areas in Epe on Saturday.
She said that clean markets were critical to public health.According to her, poor sanitation could lead to the outbreak of communicable diseases, especially in fish markets, where waste management must be handled with extra care.
The council chairman urged traders to dispose of refuse appropriately, avoid indiscriminate dumping of waste, and ensure regular cleaning of stalls and surroundings
She noted that environmental hygiene is a collective responsibility, adding that everyone should be involved in this development.
Animashaun also warned that the local government would not hesitate to enforce existing environmental laws, including sanctions against defaulters.
She assured traders of the council’s commitment to providing adequate waste disposal facilities and regular monitoring to sustain a clean and healthy market environment.
The council boss also urged traders to desist from selling by the roadside, so as to avoid accidents, noting that several motor accidents had occurred along the Aiyetoro market area.
“We, therefore, urge traders to stop selling on the roadside,” she said.
President, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Mrs Margaret Oguntala, has inaugurated the construction of 18 units residential terrace in highbrow Alausa area of Lagos toward bridging the nation’s shelter gap.
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