The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Oyo State, led by its coordinator, Mr. Audu Mayowa, today paid a courtesy visit to the Oyo State Directorate of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to strengthen the existing relationship between both organisations and explore areas of collaboration in deepening environmental awareness across the state.
The visit was particularly aimed at leveraging NOA’s extensive grassroots network to reach more people with messages on water and air pollution, waste management, prevention of harmful gaseous emissions, chemical and land waste management, toxic substances, noise pollution, ecological protection, and other environmental practices capable of causing health hazards and environmental degradation.
In his opening remarks, the Oyo State NESREA Coordinator, Mr. Audu Mayowa appreciated the Oyo State NOA Directorate for granting the team an audience despite the short notice. He noted that the relationship between NESREA and NOA at the federal level has remained cordial, with the director-general of NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, lending his voice to environmental consciousness and related issues.
He explained that the purpose of the visit was to strengthen the relationship at the state level and ensure that NESREA’s environmental campaigns achieve maximum impact by taking advantage of NOA’s wide reach, as well as the trust and confidence reposed in the agency by members of the public.
Representing the Oyo State Director of NOA, Mrs. Ajolayo Sinmiat Akande, who was engaged in another programme, the Deputy Director, Community Outreach and Development, Mrs. Omotayo Oluseyi, warmly received the NESREA team alongside members of the NOA’s management team.
Mrs. Oluseyi stressed the strategic importance of maintaining a healthy and sustainable environment, noting that environmental consciousness has remained an important component of NOA’s orientation activities through its Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers (COMOs) across the local government areas.
She added that messages on maintaining a clean and green environment, preventing environmental degradation, and discouraging indiscriminate refuse dumping are already incorporated into NOA’s regular orientation and sensitisation campaigns.
According to her, NOA reaches critical stakeholders, including traditional rulers, community opinion moulders, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Muslim organisations, schools, youth organisations and marketplace associations, among others, to promote responsible citizenship, environmental compliance and awareness of existing environmental laws.
She assured the visiting team that NOA would continue to amplify environmental messages and ensure that they reach the appropriate communities and target audiences across the state.
Responding, Mr. Audu Mayowa reiterated NESREA’s readiness to work in tandem with NOA to achieve greater environmental awareness and compliance. He highlighted the agency’s role in environmental impact assessment and its engagement with relevant stakeholders before building and other major construction activities to ensure that appropriate environmental safeguards are put in place.
He further disclosed that NESREA headquarters would soon organise an all-inclusive seminar on environmental issues, noting that NOA would be invited as a major partner.
Mr. Mayowa also encouraged members of the public to embrace recycling and other sustainable environmental practices, including responsible water management. He emphasised the agency’s cordial relationship with the Oyo State government in the collective effort to maintain a safe, healthy, and sustainable environment.
The meeting ended with an exchange of information and educational materials. The Oyo State NOA team presented copies of some of its explainer newsletters, as well as the corrected version of the national anthem for proper usage and rendition.
The engagement underscored the shared commitment of NESREA and NOA to strengthening public awareness, promoting environmental responsibility, and building a healthier and more sustainable Oyo State.
Packaged by Temitayo Afolabi
