On Aug 12, 2023,
I lead a community of young creatives on a journey of climate advocacy, global health education and environmental health outreach in commemoration of the international youth day celebration.
It all started as a conviction two weeks ago, when I just couldn’t keep my mind off the 2023 international youth day theme – #Greenskillsforyouth .
I kept asking myself what better way to celebrate this year’s youth day and I remembered how my model Oke Williams Oluwaseun had conversations with me few weeks back encouraging me to start taking intentional actions about my passion for the #UNgoals advocacy and graduate from just learning and talking about what is achievable.
The desire to build a community for the 2023 youths day celebration became a reality after my private discussion with my close friends who saw an opportunity for us to make history in our motherland.
And this was how the #ogbomoshoyouthwalk2023 started as a four man evening gist and with God a community was launched.
A plan was prepared and volunteers were on-boarded because I understood the importance of having like-minds on board for such project execution and since it is not going to be a one-man Agenda.
We didn’t just plan to have the regular clean-up project, we looked into the sustainability of the process and we could not do this without consulting appropriate stakeholders and some important figures in town.
We had series of meetings with the Ogbomoso North Local Government Chairman – Hon Akanji Kabir Ayoade on how the local government can further intensify their commitments to environmental sanitation and education for the different communities in Ogbomoso. He not only appreciated our desire to see a transformative development of our dear city but also informed us our his pasts strides in ensuring a cleaner local government area and promised his utmost support and partnership.
One of the few stakeholders in town who also believed in our advocacy drive is Hon Adeyinka Remi Oluwaseun , who clearly understood the implications of not living in a clean environment. He also encouraged us to not just clean but sit down and draw up strategies that could make our exercise a sustainable one.
And having consulted with other important figures, myself and my team reached out to few youth leaders likeStephen Alabi, Ajadi Isaac Oluwasegun Segment, Thompson Adegbite, Areo Ajibola Arexzie and many others to bring them on board with plannings , support & prayers, which came in with recommendations.
Then, myself and team sent out series of mail & letters requesting for sponsorship and all kind of partnerships. We got lots of rejections and few promises but God came through at the last minutes when family and friends gave some of the materials needed. And we had to sponsor the remaining and we gladly did.
………………….
So, as early as 8am on Saturday, 12th of August 2023, myself alongside other young chaps in the city of ogbomoso started the clean-up exercise. We were cleaning, picking up dirt & plastics from LAUTECH Teaching hospital area through Sabo, Apaake to Takie and also educating the people about #environmentalchallenges , #climatechange , #GoodHealthAndWellBeing , #greenskills.
We also had people check their #HIVstatus , encouraged them to be faithful to their partners, always have safe and protected sex, if they cannot abstain.
After the whole exercise, we had a press conference, where Kolawole Oladipo spoke as a professional on the impacts of environment on climate and further gave a call for all professionals to rise up to advocate #ClimateAction .
Damileye Ajibade spoke as a final year student of medical school on the implication of unkept environment on health and the dangers on microplastics on human health.
Thompson Oluwatobi Adegbite spoke as a community mobilizer on the need for different experts and community leaders to start giving voice to the importance of taking actions rather than waiting for the government to do all.
Adediran Abiodun spoke as a student leader on some of his past strides on climate advocacy and further call on all students leaders to rise up and take action on the global advocacy for a greener environment.
Israel Olaoluwa also spoke as the team lead of the @thechildonlinefoundation on the roles of different NGOs in climate action.
The press conference ended with a networking session with all volunteers and community members exchanging contact, building up bonds and getting their refreshment package.
I couldn’t have done all these alone without my team members : Ifeoluwa Ayegboyin , Stephen Adeyemo , Promise Akande , Esther Toluwanimi Igbinlola , Adegoke boluwatife , Drem , OJ Pamilerin, Ajibade Damileye , Abólúwadé Ọládélé Cephas , Faithfantom , Blessing Adekunle Adeleye , Yomi Tunji and every of our volunteers.
Look forward to the next event coming up soon and in-between, please follow up “Value Initiative” on Instagram.
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#InternationalYouthDay #youthcleanup #ogbomoso #Sustainability #Greenskillsforyouth #Aug12
✍️Adekunle Peter Timi
Few Pictures From Ogbomoso Clean Up:
