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The participants
By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
In an effort to improve the skills of waste scavengers in order to make them employers of labour through the waste to wealth project, the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) has commenced a 7-day training of 150 youths who are mainly waste scavengers in Bauchi state.
Representative of the NEDC at the opening ceremony, Dr Muhammad Sanusi Ibrahim said that, NEDC organized the training in order to acquaint the participants particularly scavengers on the new development in waste to wealth scheme.
He added that, the main focus of the training is to enlighten and educate for change of attitude towards waste generation in waste to wealth project through using the 4Rs which is, reducing waste, reusing waste and recycling waste so that the scavengers will work under a conducive atmosphere.
According to him, NEDC is working to ensure strict supervision to ensure that the aims and objectives were achieved by going to see how the training was impacting on the environment through practice of modern way of waste management, generation and recycling.
Muhammad Ibrahim also said that the NEDC is in partnership with the Bauchi State Government to have a workable recycling plant in the state, the issue has gone far and very soon it will be operational.
He emphasized that the trainees will only be trained by the NEDC to improve their scavenging skills in order boost the economy as it will create more job opportunities for the teeming youths in the state.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the workshop on Monday at River Edge Hotel, Bauchi, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Environments, Suleiman M. Babaji Esq said that organizing this kind of training workshop by the North-East Development Commission is a clear testimony of its absolute commitment to the ideals of Bauchi State Government under the leadership of Sen. Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed.
He also said that it is the determination of NEDC to secure a sustainable environment not only for the present generations, but also for the future ones
which is aimed at training of Youths particularly on Waste Management.
The Permanent Secretary added that the training workshop, is specifically anchored on waste management and is not only aimed at training the youths on how to harness these waste and convert them to wealth, but to also boost their capacity by taking them through the fundamental principles of how it is done in a safe and better ways.
According to him, “This laudable goal will no doubt contribute positively to the attainment of proper environmental sanitation and solid waste management in the State” .
Suleiman Babaji added that the great concern and substantial emphasis on the environment, which must not only be preserved, but nurtured has seriously become necessary for the Government and the good people of Bauchi State to jointly act with a view to solving the problems of the environment through public enlightenment and awareness campaign for massive environmental rehabilitation and protection.
This according to him will effectively be done through proper waste management. It is in this regard, therefore, that the Bauchi State Government in the past set up some precautionary measures.
The measures are: establishment of the Ministry of Environment in 2010 with a view to address the environmental challenges affecting the State and initiate the Establishment of Plastic and Metal recycling plant for the management of environmental pollution;
The government also granted approval for the State Ministry of Environment to embark on environmental tour of all facilities and equipment under the Ministry, with a view to ascertain their presence status, so as to get them revitalized for optimum utilization.
“Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, this training we are witnessing today has come at the right time and it has the potentials of providing the directional impetus to meet the environmental challenges facing our dear State. I therefore urge you to listen attentively and make judicious utilization of the knowledge acquired in this workshop so as to transform the State positively”, he added.
He then expressed hope that trainings of this magnitude will be a regular event considering the huge environmental waste being experienced in the State charging the facilitators of the training workshop to be down to earth in discussing the relevant subjects just as he commend them for the timely intervention and good initiatives.
