The Nigerian Youth Organisation (NYO), Ogun State chapter, on thurday staged a massive sanitation exercise across major areas of Abeokuta, drawing close to 200 volunteers in a bid to demonstrate that Nigerian youths are capable of being productive and socially responsible.
The exercise, which covered areas such as Tarmac Computer Village, Ibara, Omida, the Governor’s Office axis, Liberty Junction, Agape Junction, Amolaso, Grammar School, and Sapon, was carried out in partnership with the Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWUMA) and with the support of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Speaking during the exercise, the chairman of the NYO in Ogun State, Comrade Saka Olanrewaju, described the initiative as a bold step to change the negative perception of youths in the country.
“As youths, we want to prove to society that we are not lazy. Instead of being seen as social miscreants, we want to be recognised as viable, productive, and responsible contributors to nation-building,” he said.
Also speaking, Ambassador Maryam Olasunbo Ajala, the state secretary of the NYO, explained that the choice of locations was strategic as Abeokuta remains the central hub of the state. She added that the organisation plans to extend the exercise to all 20 local government areas.
She noted that the major challenge encountered was indiscriminate dumping of refuse on roadsides but expressed optimism that with continuous sensitisation, residents would adopt better waste disposal practices.
Residents in the areas visited were said to have welcomed the move warmly, with some even joining the exercise on the spot.
Encouraged by the success of the programme, the NYO revealed that more community-based initiatives are already in the pipeline as part of efforts to engage youths positively.
