The Ogun state government is aware that it is no longer enough to celebrate industrial growth without addressing the environmental and public health challenges it creates.
It is therefore paying adequate attention to preventing poor management of industrial waste which leads to polluted air, contaminated water and degraded soil thereby affecting the integrity of the ecosystem and threatening the health of the citizens.
Governor Dapo Abiodun made this known this Thursday while declaring open a 2-day workshop for health safety and environment personnel of industries in the state on industrial waste management organised by the State Waste Management Authority(OGWAMA) held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta.
Represented by his Deputy, Engineer Noimot Salako-Oyedele, the Governor described the theme of the workshop,’enhancing industrial waste management for a sustainable future: regulatory compliance, public health and global practices’ as apt given the need to collectively build a sustainable future for the state.
Governor Abiodun who said Ogun, occupies a unique position in Nigeria’s economic landscape, added that as the industrial hub of the nation, the state factories, plants and processing facilities serve as the engines of growth and innovation, driving economic development,creating jobs and contributing significantly to national progress.
According to the governor, the current administration will always enforce the proper management of by-products of production sustainably and responsibly by strengthening regulatory frameworks to make industries embrace best practices.
He commended OGWAMA for transforming waste management across the state, restating government commitment to building on its strides in waste and environment management towards a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable Ogun state.
In a remark, the Commissioner for environment, Dr. Ola Oresanya said the workshop indicates the concern of the government to the safety and health of the people and its determination to attaining the SDG goal 9 on responsible industrial production.
In a welcome address, the OGWAMA Managing Director, Hon. Abayomi Hunye explained that the workshop will afford stakeholders who play critical roles in industrial waste management the opportunity of appraising methods of achieving sustainable waste management in line with global best practices.#
