By Jude Michael
Governor Chukwuma Soludo led Anambra State government through the Ministry of Environment on Thursday, 8th June, 2023 kicked off the much anticipated All-Anambra Community Plastic Recovery Challenge in Awka the Anambra State Capital.
Launching the Challenge during the celebration of this year’s World Environment Day (WED), the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, said the state could not afford to further lose any part of the state’s land to environmental degradation and devastation, noting that erosion and flood had taken up many valuable spaces and should be retrieved through such challenge.
The state’s number two Citizen announced that the government had mapped out plans geared towards retrieving the land from the firm grip of gully erosion and flooding and they would leave no stone unturned in actualizing the target.
Dr Ibezim appreciated the state Commissioner for Environment, Engr. Dr Felix Odimegwu, and his team for working assiduously towards achieving the Governor’s mantra of Green, Clean and Sustainable Environment, even as he commended Anambra Waste Recyclers Association (ASWRA) for taking the bull by the horns.
‘The Plastic Recovery Challenge will make a whole lot sense. It will not only give us a cleaner environment, it will also engage our youths meaningfully. It will keep communities busy throughout the duration of the competition.
‘We are threatened by erosion, and, recently, flooding, owing to terrible activities of the people. We are reclaiming the whole river. People are building on the waterways which is not right. A lot of work has been done in Onitsha. We cannot wait to be swept away by environmental hazards. I am happy seeing this event kicked off,’ he concluded.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Environment Anambra State, Engr. Dr Felix Odimegwu, called on the citizens to take ownership and drive the process, noting that they would make money from the challenge at the end.
‘Apart from 1000, 000 Naira that will go to the winner of the challenge in each category, the first runner-up will receive the sum of 500,000 Naira, while the second runner-up will take home the sum of 200, 000 Naira. It is a win-win situation for the communities. They will not only get the prize money, they will equally receive the money from the sale of the recovered plastic waste,’ the Commissioner said.
Engr Odimegwu announced that the challenge would last one month, beginning from 8th June to 7th July, 2023, stating that there would be an incentive for all the participants. He urged community leaders to be alive to their responsibility and ensure that participated adequately in the challenge, emphasizing that Governor Soludo was keen to know those who performed exceedingly well.
In their separate speeches, the National President of Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU), Barr. Titus Akpudo; the State Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Sir Joseph Uchendu; and other stakeholders, enjoined Ndi Anambra to key into what they described as a laudable and money spinning project. They appreciated Gov Soludo through the Commissioner, describing his administration as positive and impactful one.
