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Busuyi Ogidiolu
Ekiti State government has charged every resident to take ownership of the environment by keeping their surroundings clean, reducing pollution, planting trees, and managing waste properly.
The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Chief Tosin Aluko-Ajisafe, gave the charge during the commemoration of the 2026 World Environment Day held in Ado Ekiti.
According to her, protecting the environment requires a collective effort from all citizens.
“Every resident must see themselves as an environmental ambassador. We must take responsibility for keeping our surroundings clean, reduce pollution, ensure planting of trees, and manage waste properly if we want to build a better society,”she said.
World Environment Day is a global event dedicated to creating awareness and encouraging action for environmental protection and sustainability. Ekiti joined other states to mark the day with sensitization activities across the state capital.
The Commissioner, said this year’s theme, _“Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future,”serves as a reminder of nature’s role in combating climate change.
“Nature is the greatest teacher and strongest support in the fight against climate change. Rising temperatures, irregular rainfall, flooding, land degradation, loss of biodiversity, health challenges and food contamination are major difficulties confronting the future of the present generation,”_ she stated.
Chief Aluko-Ajisafe pledged government’s commitment to building a clean, safe and sustainable environment.
The Commissioner added that Government is committed to building a clean, safe, healthy and sustainable environment through policies, public awareness campaigns on climate change, deployment of waste trucks, placement of bins in key locations, and protection of biodiversity.
In a lecture, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Ekiti State University and Professor of Geography and Regional Planning, Prof Wole Adebayo, said environmental pollution is largely caused by human activities such as deforestation and urbanization. He recommended tree planting, proper agricultural practices, and improved refuse collection.
In goodwill messages, the Head of Service, Dr Folake Olomojobi; Commissioner for Information, Chief Taiwo Olatunbosun; and Chairperson, Ekiti State House of Assembly Committee on Environment, Hon Iyabo Fakunle-Okieme and other stakeholders promised to increase awareness tocheck environmental degradation.
The Ministry of Environment, in conjunction with stakeholders, also organized a sensitization walk to strategic locations in Ado Ekiti to educate residents on practices that promote environmental conservation.
