A non-profit organisation, Speak-Up Volunteers Initiative, on Thursday organised sanitisation exercise at Eke market and motor parks in Afikpo north local government area of Ebonyi state.
Convener of the group, an Abuja-based legal practitioner, Barrister Uche Bright Ifeanyi, said that part of the plans by the group for its annual community service is the enrollment of youths for digital training, sensitisation on SDGs, among others.
He revealed that participants in the annual exercise are entitled to certain benefits while appealing for volunteers to join in the onerous task of keeping Afikpo clean, healthy and safe for residents.
He also appealed for financial support from organisations and well-meaning Nigerians to fund its laudable initiatives of training Afikpo youths on different skills; in order to reduce unemployment, secret cult activities and other social vices.
He said: “I have engaged in this kind of activity for over three years. The truth is that, wherever I am, I like to impact on my environment. We came up with the concept to impact on people by cleaning up the popular Eke market in Afikpo and the motor park area. We have to move away from the old order of doing things because I am passionate about the SDGs.
“Everything we do is anchored on the United Nation’s SDGs. However, I implore Ebonyians, especially Afikpo residents and business owners to maintain clean environment and hygiene through proper waste disposal. In a few days’ time, we will select people we will empower through training on ICT. This will help to reduce the rate of cultism, youth restiveness and curb poverty.”
Speaking to Blueprint during the exercise which attracted more than 200 participants, a student, Mr Kelechi Agha, described the sanitation exercise as a welcome development and encouraged Ebonyi state indigenes to maintain good hygiene.
“This sanitation service was necessitated by a concerned citizen, a legal practitioner, for Ebonyians. Ordinarily, we are happy that the organiser, an Abuja based legal practitioner, could remember to do such a thing for Ebonyi state. It is the first of its kind and I implore all Ebonyians to support the laudable objective,” he said.
Similarly, one of the participants, Mr Bernard Eluu, said that the exercise is paramount in view of the fact that health is wealth.
“Health is wealth. We want to make sure the environment is clean that is why we have to engage in this selfless service of cleaning the environment. Passersby have been lauding us and it is worth the while,” he said.
