As I reflect on my 300-level Harmattan semester, I remember the announcement that sparked a mix of emotions – a Faculty Cleaning exercise that would account for 30 marks of our Continuous Assessment. The same man who made the announcement would be teaching us International Communication, a course that seemed unrelated to cleaning. I thought, “This is selfishness! How can he impose this on us?” But soon after, I discovered there was more to it than meets the eye.
As a member of the committee, I was tasked with creating captivating designs for the campaign. Initially, I was skeptical, but as we began campaigning, I gained a deeper understanding of the importance of the cleaning exercise. Our lecturer’s insistence on Faculty Cleaning under an unrelated course made sense – it was more about taking responsibility for our actions than just fulfilling the course requirement.
As young, agile individuals, we should be mindful of our impact on the environment. As I give it more thought, I realize that this is not about being a university student only, in any category of life, it is expected of you to be responsible for your actions at all times including disposing of your waste products properly.
The truth is, that we often blame the government for our environmental problems, but we forget that we are also citizens with a role to play. We litter our environment and expect someone else to clean up after us. It’s time to take responsibility for our actions and work towards a greener environment.
Maintaining a clean environment is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, it attracts businesses and customers, as no one wants to live or work in a dirty environment. Doing business in a dirty environment not only hampers the growth of the business, it also hinders customers and potential customers from patronizing the business. Imagine a food business operating in a dirty environment, how do you expect customers to come buy food?
Secondly, it improves neighborhood health, reducing the risk of environmental diseases like cholera. Finally, it reduces pollution by properly disposing of solid waste and promoting recycling and reuse. When solid waste is properly disposed of, it prevents air and water pollution while recycling and reusing products will help reduce the need to extract Earth’s natural resources.
As the unknown saying goes, “Every small action counts, and when combined with the actions of others, can lead to significant positive change.” We don’t need to do much to make a difference.
By following the 3Rs – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Reduce items that contribute to excessive waste and go for items that are reusable and recyclable. Make conscious efforts like disposing of waste properly, and using energy-efficient light bulbs, Energy efficient light bulbs reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, if it’s not needed, switch it off.
And lastly, volunteer for cleanups in your environment and educate others. Be willing to contribute your quota whenever the opportunity presents itself. And don’t just stop at that, spread the gospel of a healthy environment to everyone.
So, I ask you: What small changes can you make today to reduce your environmental footprint? How would you like to contribute to a cleaner, healthier planet for future generations? What will you do differently today to improve your impact on the environment?
Remember, the environment is not only a political issue, it’s also a human issue.
…By Damilola Adebiyi
Food & Wellbeing2 months ago