Oyo govt steps up environmental awareness at Oja-Oba Market
Adejayan Gbenga
The Oyo State Government has intensified its campaign for a cleaner environment with a massive sensitisation exercise at Oja-Oba Market, Ibadan, to mark the 2025 World Clean-Up Day. The initiative aimed to educate residents and traders on hygiene, waste management, and the economic benefits of recycling.
Addressing participants, the Head of Service, Mrs. Olubunmi Oni, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Department, Mr. Olusola Ojelabi, said the exercise was designed to raise awareness about the importance of environmental cleanliness. She urged residents to make hygiene a daily habit, noting that a clean environment contributes significantly to good health and sustainable living.
Mrs. Oni stressed that proper waste disposal, regular sweeping, and the maintenance of clean drainages are simple but vital practices that help prevent disease outbreaks. She appealed to traders to make proper use of waste bins provided by the government and avoid littering markets or blocking waterways with refuse.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Dr. Sunday Ojelabi, said the campaign formed part of the state’s activities for the 2025 World Clean-Up Day. He explained that the initiative also promotes the state’s waste-to-wealth drive by encouraging residents to view waste as a resource rather than a burden.
Dr. Ojelabi noted that Oja-Oba Market was strategically selected for the exercise because of its cultural and commercial significance in Ibadan. He called on market leaders and traders to collaborate with the government in sustaining environmental hygiene and ensuring a cleaner marketplace.
Highlighting recent progress, Dr. Ojelabi disclosed that Oyo State’s ranking on the Sub-National Climate Governance Index had improved dramatically from 34th in 2024 to 7th in 2025. He attributed the improvement to Governor Seyi Makinde’s commitment to environmental reforms and proactive policies aimed at promoting sustainability.
“Our goal is to make Oyo one of the top three cleanest states in Nigeria, and eventually among the cleanest in the world,” he said. “But this can only be achieved through collective action. We must stop indiscriminate dumping of refuse, open defecation, and other practices that endanger public health.”
Market leaders, including the Iyaloja of Bodija Market, Alhaja Sikiratu Adebayo Tantoloun; the Iyaloja of Eleyele Market, Alhaja Ramota; and the representative of the Babaloja-General, Prince Akanni Ojo, commended the government for its continuous environmental campaigns. They pledged to support the state’s efforts to promote hygiene and environmental sustainability across all markets.
