LAWMA, Fire Service partner schools in sustainability, fire prevention drive
The Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has organised a sensitisation programme on waste management sustainability and fire prevention for students and teachers from public secondary schools across the state. The event was held at the Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja.
The programme featured presentations by the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service. Participants were trained on proper waste sorting, recycling techniques, the circular economy, use of fire extinguishers, and emergency response procedures.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Jamiu Ali-Balogun, stressed the need for collective action in building a safer and more sustainable future. He said the initiative was designed to equip students with practical knowledge on waste disposal and fire safety, empowering them to serve as Safety Ambassadors in their schools and communities.
Ali-Balogun commended the students for embracing proactive steps toward proper waste management and fire prevention, noting that simple actions such as switching off electrical appliances at home and in school can prevent avoidable disasters. “A safer environment begins with individuals, and the time to act is now,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs Abisola Dokunmu-Adegbite, highlighted the importance of maintaining a clean and safe school environment to enhance effective teaching and learning. She described the programme as timely and essential, as it addressed issues that directly impact schools and surrounding communities.
Dokunmu-Adegbite warned against the dangers of poor waste management and fire negligence, noting that improper waste disposal could result in unhealthy environments, disease outbreaks, and environmental degradation. She urged students, teachers, and school staff to work together to keep classrooms, laboratories, libraries, hostels, playgrounds, and school premises clean and safe.
She added that the programme aimed to provide students with practical skills in waste sorting, disposal, recycling, and hazard identification, both at school and at home. She also emphasised the supervisory role of teachers in enforcing environmental and safety regulations.
Encouraging participants to become Change Ambassadors, the Permanent Secretary urged them to apply and share the knowledge gained by keeping their surroundings tidy, obeying safety rules, promptly reporting hazards, and promoting environmental responsibility.
In her presentation on waste management and sustainability, the Director and Head of LAWMA Academy, Mrs Bola Adewunmi, explained the concept of the circular economy and underscored the importance of recycling. She outlined the “7Rs” of effective solid waste management — Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Refurbish, Rethink, and Recover — stressing that “not all waste is waste unless you choose to waste it.
