By Stanley Onunkwor
The Anambra State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Clem Aguiyi, has urged women across the state to become frontline advocates for responsible environmental practices, beginning with their homes and extending to markets and communities.
Aguiyi made the call on Oct. 8 while engaging representatives of the Anambra State Town Union Council (ASTUC) Women Wing from communities across the state at the ASTUC Hall, Old Government House, Awka.
The commissioner described women, particularly mothers and community leaders, as strategic partners in tackling environmental degradation and promoting sustainable practices at the grassroots.
He reaffirmed the existing Memorandum of Understanding between the ASTUC Women Wing and the Ministry of Environment, noting that the partnership informed the environmental focus of this year’s ASTUC Annual August Meeting and the women’s commitment to planting more than 500,000 trees across Anambra State.
Aguiyi said the initiative was particularly important in addressing environmental challenges such as erosion, flooding and other forms of degradation, which he attributed partly to harmful human activities and poor environmental practices.
He urged the women to translate environmental awareness into daily action by promoting proper waste disposal, keeping drainage channels clear, planting trees and discouraging indiscriminate deforestation.
The commissioner stressed that sustainable behavioural change must begin at home, with parents teaching children to understand their responsibility towards the environment.
“The change we seek must begin from the home. When children are properly educated about the environment, they will grow up not only to practise responsible environmental behaviour but also to remind their parents and communities of their responsibilities,” he said.
Aguiyi commended the leadership of the ASTUC Women Wing, led by Mrs. Blessing Onuigwe, for its grassroots advocacy, urging the group to intensify community mobilisation while supporting appropriate measures against persistent environmental violations.
He encouraged the women to view tree planting as a legacy for future generations, noting that trees planted today can provide environmental and economic benefits long after the present generation.
The commissioner assured the women that the ministry would continue to work with community based organisations, traditional institutions and other stakeholders to strengthen environmental management across the state.
The engagement followed the distribution of improved palm seedlings to women beneficiaries under a partnership involving the Ministry of Environment, Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu, Ebonyi State, and TechSave Nigeria Ltd, facilitated by Chief Christopher Ndubisi (Ikenga Umuawulu).
The President of ASTUC, Hon. Vin Dike, also attended the engagement.
In her remarks, the Chairlady of the ASTUC Women Wing thanked the commissioner for the engagement, reaffirming the women’s commitment to supporting the ministry’s environmental programmes and expanding awareness within their communities.
The engagement underscored the importance of grassroots partnerships in turning environmental policies into everyday practices and building cleaner, safer and more sustainable communities across Anambra State.
Stanley Onunkwor os of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
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