Cleanliness is said to be next to Godliness and a healthy citizenry births a thriving economy. Based on these assertions, the National Youth Service Corps Osun State joined her counterparts in other States to observe the NYSC National Environmental Sanitation Day as part of her cooperate social responsibility.

Corps members across the four zones and 30 Local Governments of the state and the Area office in Modakeke trooped out in their numbers moving around different markets in the communities as well as the Local Government Secretariats to conduct the environmental sanitation activities.

The Exercise was flagged off by the NYSC Osun State Coordinator, Mrs Winifred Shokpeka at the Olorunda Secretariat today Saturday, 23rd April, 2022.

The State Coordinator who visited three of the four zones, namely: Olorunda in Osogbo Zone, Obokun in Ilesa Zone and Ifelodun in Ikirun Zone , appreciated the Director- General, Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim and the Management of the Scheme for coming up with such a laudable project which has enhanced the relevance of the Scheme and has also exposed the corps members to selfless service and social responsibility. She further commended the turn-out of the corps members for the historic event.

In her address, Shokpeka stated that sanitation is all-embracing, as it begins with one's personal life and cuts across the society. She stated that a healthy lifestyle and a clean environment are economic boosters which every society must embrace. She urged everyone present to pay keen attention to sanitation.

Shokpeka advised corps members, especially the ladies, not to allow their items of adornment to be in such a way that it can be used as a weapon against them. She urged the corps members to be security-conscious, and avoid acts that expose them to danger of any sort. "Do not allow your hair to be so long that it can easily be dragged by a predator or bandits, be security conscious in all you do, even in the way you dress." She added.

According to her, one way to stay safe is by keeping the surroundings clean and the ambiance beautiful. Speaking further on the importance of environmental sanitation, she emphasised that sanitation goes beyond keeping the environment clean, because" the atmosphere you are in, affects your psychological health and if it's not very healthy it has the tendency of making one depressed".

She decried the rising rate of hypertension in youths and young adults and called on the corps members to embrace healthy living and shun indulgent habits that are harbingers of hypertension and other diseases. "The choices you make today have a great impact on the quality of life you will enjoy tomorrow", Shokpeka stated.

She went on to say that cleanliness indeed begins with what one consumes, and not just the environment. She urged all corps members present to pay attention to their choice of diet as the food many consume are poison rather than medicine due to the processes and preservatives in them. According to her, in order to have a clean environment, one must first develop a healthy lifestyle.

"Cleanliness affects your way of thinking. Sanitation is a necessity in the life of every individual and not just collectively as we are about to do. It’s important for you to see how much change could happen once you go out there to show everyone that you are worthy ambassadors of the NYSC Scheme".

She urged the corps members not to see the Exercise as just another activity, but rather, to become advocates for healthy living and clean environments in their places of Primary Assignment and communities. She reminded them that, “We're not just cleaning the streets, we are also cleaning our minds. A clean environment is a key factor to staying safe", she concluded.

Speaking earlier, the Assistant Director Community Development Service and Special Project, Mr Felix Ayibiowu, thanked corps members for making themselves available and coming out en-mass to participate in the exercise to achieve the mandate of the NYSC Director General, Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim.

He urged the members to leave a lasting impression and legacy in the communities by giving their best to the exercise. He urged them to diligently carry out the task at hand as ambassadors of the NYSC and the Government.

He lauded the State Coordinator for the exemplary leadership role played in ensuing the success of the programme and for also sending out the Management Team to monitor compliance across the State.