By Amaka Olua
The Transition Committee Chairman of Awka South L.G.A, Hon Leo Nwuba, has awarded cash prizes to communities that emerged winners in the recently launched ”Operation Keep Awka South Clean” sanitation exercise.
The operation was launched by Awka South Local Government to encourage communities in the area to keep their environment clean.
Presenting the cash prizes, the Awka South Chairman, Nwuba, handed cheques of N200, 000 to Mbaukwu for emerging first; and N150, 000 to Amawbia as the runner-up. Awka Town came third and received a cash prize of N100, 000.
Speaking at the presentation, the Transition Chairman of Awka South, Nwuba, stated that the Operation Keep Awka South Clean was carried out on 19th October, 2019, among the eight communities in Awka South which included, Mbaukwu, Amawbia, Nise, Nibo, Awka, Umuawulu, Ezinator and Isiagu.
He described the clean-up competition as the first of its kind in Nigeria, pointing out that he had a burning desire to make sure that the people brought back the habit of cleanness, as well as the habit of using government’s facilities more appropriately.
He regretted that most people ignored the waste bins and preferred using the drainage channels to dump their wastes, leading to blockage. Nwuba said this was what prompted his council to embark on the exercise and enjoined all community leaders to put more efforts towards keeping the state clean.
He stated that the clean-up exercise had come to stay in Awka South LGA, and disclosed that another exercise would take place in March, 2020.
He thanked all the communities that participated and encouraged them to put more efforts in order to achieve positive results.
Also speaking, the youth leader, Mbaukwu, Mr. Kanayo Offor, commended the Awka South Boss for what he described as his selfless service in piloting the affairs of the Council, and described the initiative as the first of its kind.
He said the exercise was part of giving the youths encouragement to be hardworking in order to make Awka South the cleanest community in Anambra State.
He expressed joy that his community, Mbaukwu, took the first position in the just concluded exercise, noting they put in their best to claim the first position. He advised other communities to emulate them in order to win a prize in the next edition of the exercise.
For his part, the Deputy Director, Environmental Health Service, Awka South Council, Mr. Augustine Isionu, described the competition as ideal, commending Nwuba for deeming it necessary for the local government to conduct the sanitation competition in Awka South.
He said it was quite different from the normal clean up exercise, recalling that a five-man committee was set up to visit all the communities that made up Awka South and that they were assessed based on laid down parameters.
Also speaking, the youth leader in Amawbia, Mr. Paul Onuorah, commended the Awka South Council for motivating the youths through the launch of Operation Keep Awka South Clean.
Isionu said it would motivate the youths to know that keeping the state clean was necessary and noted that cleanliness was important to every human.
