The Oyo State Government and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have called on residents to adopt sustainable waste management habits, particularly by reusing and repurposing textiles to protect the environment.
The appeal was made during this year’s World Clean-Up Day celebration in Ibadan, themed “Tackling Textile and Fashion Waste through Circular Economy.”
The Oyo State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Seun Ashamu, urged citizens, especially market traders, to sort their waste properly and support recycling initiatives.
Ashamu reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to enforcing environmental laws and warned that violators would face sanctions.
He stressed that the initiative aims not only to commemorate the global event but also to raise awareness of the dangers of textile and fashion waste.
UNICEF’s Director of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Mr. Monday Johnson, highlighted that textiles are a major contributor to pollution and urged residents to adopt responsible clothing consumption and disposal habits.
Similarly, Dr. Femi Balogun of the University of Ibadan, represented by Dr. Deborah Adeyemi, emphasized that adopting a circular economy model is vital for tackling textile waste.
The Chairman of the Oyo State House Committee on Environment and Ecology, Rahman Olorunpoto, also commended the ministry’s efforts and reiterated the Assembly’s commitment to promoting a clean and sustainable environment.
