As part of its commitment to sustainable waste management, the Ogun State Government has distributed refurbished clothes and shoes to residents of Ipokia Local Government Area under its “Renew and Reuse Programme.”
The initiative, aimed at promoting proper waste management through acts of charity, encourages residents to donate items they no longer use, which are then renewed and redistributed to those in need.
Flagging off the distribution exercise at the Ipokia Local Government Secretariat, the Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, said the programme was designed to strengthen community bonds by transforming items considered as waste into useful materials.
Represented by the Director of Environmental Quality Control, Water Regulatory Enforcement and Advocacy in the ministry, Mr. Kayode Akinwande, Oresanya explained that the distributed items were donations from residents, refurbished by the government for reuse by others.
“We want our people to understand that waste is not waste unless you waste it. One person’s waste is another’s joy,” Oresanya said. “All you need to do is donate your unused items through the collection boxes placed at strategic locations across the state. Instead of dumping them in waterways and drainages, let them bring happiness to others.”
The commissioner added that the initiative also supports environmental protection by reducing indiscriminate dumping and promoting responsible disposal practices.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Ipokia Local Government, Johnson Avoseh, commended the state government, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, and the Rotary Club of Abeokuta for supporting the programme.
He said the initiative would not only assist the underprivileged but also mitigate environmental challenges in the long term.
Two beneficiaries, Madam Esther Akovoyan and Mr. Simon Gandonu, expressed gratitude to the government for the renewed items and urged residents to contribute generously to the project so more people could benefit.
Ipokia Local Government is the third of the state’s 20 councils to benefit from the Renew and Reuse distribution since its launch last year.
