Thomas Chidoka Center For Human Development, Obosi in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State on Saturday became a behive of activities as people from different communities of Anambra Central senatorial zone gathered for environmental situational hazards awareness training.
The training handled by the Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON) was powered by Hon Obinna Chidoka, the former representative of Idemili North and South LGAs in the green chamber of the National Assembly.
Hon Chidoka represented by Mr Ndu Ikeokwu in his welcome address appreciated the EHORECON team for making it to Obosi inspite of many challenges. He urged the participants to give maximum attention to the training empowerment noting that in due time, the beneficiaries would begin to teach people in other parts of the State.
Dr Yakubu Mohammed Baba, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of EHORECON represented by Sanitarian Kelvin Okafor, South East zonal director of EHORECON in his opening speech appreciated Hon Chidoka for constantly striving to empower his people. He described the former lawmaker as person who believes that his people should be taught to fish and not be given fishes.
The CEO EHORECON pointed out that the lawmaker through his activities in federal legislative chamber has put his constituency in the front burner in the scheme of things.
He noted that the study of Environmental Hazards have been relegated to the background in Nigeria which he said ought not to be.
Sanitarian Okafor urged the participants who he said are representing their people to take whatever they can get from the training.
He said that the neglect of environmental situational hazards has serious impact on family and society resources as people are forced to spend their meagre resources on hospital bills which he said wouldn’t have been so if the issue of environmental situational hazards are taken seriously.
Okafor said that the participants should learn and be prepared to teach others in their different communities and local government areas.
A resource person from EHORECON, Abuja, Sanitarian Victor Ebor noted that people were enjoying long life span with functional organs in years gone bye contrary to the present reality in Nigeria where life expectancy has become so short and brutish.
He said as a matter of fact that a whole lot of issues that are cutting short people’s lives span are environmental in nature.
The issues according to him are indiscriminate dumping of refuse, open defecation and other dirty attitudes .
He spoke extensively on identification and prevention of hazards at home, workplace and public places.
“Most of the food consumed by Nigerians are chemicals, the roads are terrific and other hazards people have to grapple with in the environment. If proper things are done, some of the environmental risks would be reduced, there is the issue of wild bush fire, open toilet pits and so on . Another factor of environmental degradation is excavation of mineral resources in crude manners, so also is dumping of plastics indiscriminately.” He said.
The program was attended by President Generals from communities in Anambra Central senatorial zone and other stakeholders.
Hon Chikwelu Chidozie from Anaocha LGA who spoke on behalf of the participants at the end of the training program applauded Hon Obinna Chidoka for always being proactive in everything that will improve the living conditions of Ndi-Anambra.
He said that the training program was significantly important as it would help the trainees live a healthy life.
Hon Chidozie who prayed for success in every of the lawmaker’s future endeavors said, “He is a good man, some other people would have taken this training outside the State but he is always doing his things in unique and special ways. We will back him in his future political venture.”
The highlight of the event was presentation of certificate of participation and cash grants to the trainees numbering about seven hundred.
