NCGF COMMENDS ASEPA FOR KEEPING ABA CLEAN, DONATES PPE TO STREET SWEEPERS
Says Abia has become the cleanest state in Nigeria
By Richard Agwu
The Nigeria Christian Graduate Fellowship, NCGF, on Thursday commended the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency, ASEPA, for its efforts in transforming Aba, a city once notorious for heaps of refuse.
The commendation was made during a special appreciation service held in honour of ASEPA by NCGF Aba 1 Chapter where members interacted with the agency’s management team.
Leading the ASEPA delegation was the Deputy General Manager, Dr. Okezie Ezengwa. He was accompanied by the Director of Administration, Mrs. Peace Chukwudi; Head of Works Department, Mrs. Felly Umenyinwa; Coordinator Area 1, Mr. Eric Njoku; Operational Manager, Mr. Iyke Emereonye; Maintenance Manager, Mrs. Chinonso Obinna; Head of Monitoring, Mr. Charles Agbanyim; Coordinator Area 14, and other staff.
In her opening remarks, the Immediate Past Chapter President and Sisters Leader of NCGF Aba 1 chapter, Barr. Mrs. Ijeoma Chidi-Njoku, highlighted the origin, vision, and mandate of the fellowship.
She described NCGF as a national, non-denominational, faith-based organization of Christian graduates “intellectually equipped to positively impact our society and the nations of the world.”
According to her, the fellowship’s mandate is to train and empower members spiritually, economically, politically, and socially to provide sound and enlightened leadership in the Church and the larger society. Its vision, she said, is “to be a Fellowship of Christian intellectuals and professionals armed with principles to impact the Church and society for the establishment of godly values in all facets of human endeavors.”
Barr. Mrs. Chidi-Njoku noted that NCGF, which began in 1966 and became a national entity in 1975, has recorded tremendous achievements. These include advocacy against Nigeria’s membership of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, OIC, and the push to separate Christian Religious Studies and Islamic Religious Studies as stand alone subjects in the school curriculum.
She also cited the work of NCGF’s missionary arm, the Africa Vision Tract House Society, AVTHS, which has distributed over 29 million gospel tracts and conducted more than 40 free medical and social outreaches.
In an interactive session anchored by Barr. Mrs Chidi-Njoku, she applauded the waste management reforms in Abia State, which reforms Dr. Ezengwa attributed to “the hand of God”, a responsible and responsive government, and increased public enlightenment on waste disposal.
He said there used to be a wrong notion where children believed the gutter was the best place to dump refuse because “their parents and grandparents did it.”
“But because of the current enlightenment and education, the mindset has changed. Residents now dispose of their waste appropriately into ASEPA receptacles between 5pm and 9pm daily. The receptacles are within reach, unlike in other towns where you have to go far before disposing your waste,” he explained.
Dr. Ezengwa added that ASEPA engages both permanent and ad-hoc staff to sustain sanitation across the state.
The NCGF Aba 1 Chapter President, Pastor Godswill Nwokocha, expressed appreciation to ASEPA staff for transforming the outlook of Aba. He stated that he had declared in Port Harcourt that “Abia State has taken over as the cleanest city in Nigeria.”
He, however, expressed concern for street sweepers who lack adequate protection. On behalf of NCGF, he donated packs of protective wears, hand gloves, and face masks to ASEPA.
Pastor Nwokocha urged that street sweepers be provided with face masks and those handling bins with gloves. He called on ASEPA to intensify orientation on the use of Personal Protective Equipment, PPE.
He also proposed sponsoring a bill to prevent scavengers from going into refuse receptacles unprotected, saying such practice endangers their health. He pledged to use the media to encourage other organizations to support government efforts in keeping cities clean.
In his response, Dr. Ezengwa expressed gratitude to NCGF for the gesture. The event concluded with prayers.
NCGF said it remains committed to supporting initiatives that promote godly values, civic responsibility, and sustainable development in Abia State.
