LAWMA, Fire Service Partner Schools in Sustainability, Fire Prevention Drive
The Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has organised a sensitisation programme on waste management sustainability and fire prevention for students and teachers from Lagos State public secondary schools recently at the Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja.
The programme, which featured proper waste sorting, use of fire extinguishers, and emergency response procedures, presentations from the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services, covered topics such as the circular economy, recycling, and fire prevention strategies, amongst others.
Speaking at the event, which also provided hands-on knowledge of proper waste disposal, recycling techniques, and fire safety protocols to empower participants, the Honourable Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Ali-Balogun stressed the need for collective action to achieve a safer and more sustainable future.
He noted that the event was designed to empower students to become Safety Ambassadors by promoting environmental awareness and safety practices in their schools and communities.
The Commissioner commended students for taking proactive steps toward proper waste management and fire prevention, noting that simple actions such as switching off electrical appliances at home and in schools ensures safety of lives and property. “A safer environment begins with individuals, and the time to act is now”, he stated.
Mrs. Abisola Dokunmu-Adegbite, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, emphasised the importance of a clean and safe school environment for effective learning. She described the programme as timely and critical, noting that it focused on issues that directly affect schools and communities.
The Permanent Secretary highlighted the risks of poor waste management and fire negligence, urging students and teachers to take responsibility for maintaining their surroundings. According to her, “A clean, safe, and well-managed school environment is essential for effective teaching and meaningful learning”.
Dokunmu-Adegbite stressed that students, teachers, and staff must work together to keep classrooms, hostels, laboratories, libraries, playgrounds, and school grounds clean and safe. “Improper waste disposal can lead to unhealthy environments, disease outbreaks, and environmental damage”, she noted.
She affirmed that the programme aimed to give students practical skills on waste sorting, disposal, and recycling, as well as keeping classrooms tidy and spotting fire risks in the school and homes.
Participants also learnt the rudiments of fire prevention and emergency response, while emphasis was laid on the teachers’ leading role, supervisory, and enforcing environmental and safety rules.
She urged participants, especially students, to act as Change Ambassadors, to reflect knowledge gained, by keeping school premises clean, obeying safety rules, promptly reporting hazards, and cascading lessons learnt.
Delivering a presentation on Waste Management and Sustainability, Director and Head of LAWMA Academy, Mrs. Bola Adewunmi also emphasised the need for a clean environment, explaining the concept of circular economy, and highlighted the importance of recycling.
She shared the ‘7Rs’ of effective solid waste management, which include the concept of Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Refurbish, Re-think and Recover, stressing further that “not all waste is waste unless you want to waste them”.
The second presentation on Fire Prevention and Response was delivered by Mr. Babatunde Afoju, an Assistant Chief Fire Officer from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services, who noted that fire is more of a friend than an enemy, beneficial when properly controlled, but dangerous when carelessly handled.
Afoju emphasised that fire safety is a collective responsibility and encouraged participants to call emergency toll-free numbers 112 or 767 for necessary assistance.
