Kwara trains students on public health, environmental protection

By Muyideen Aliyu, Ilorin

The Kwara State Environmental Protection Agency (KWEPA) has trained students of the Kwara State College of Health Technology, Offa, and the University of Ilorin in a hands-on programme designed to nurture future leaders in environmental and public health management.

The training exercise, which focused on experiential learning, was organised to bridge the gap between classroom theory and practical applications while equipping participants with the technical and professional skills needed to function as environmental and scientific officers.

As part of the engagement, students were taken on guided visits to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Funsho Bakery, and the Akerebiata Abattoir.

These locations were chosen to expose them to core aspects of environmental health, including hospital waste management, food hygiene standards, and abattoir sanitation systems.

During the field exercise, the Chief Environmental Health Officer, Alhaji Yinusa Jidah, encouraged the students to remain disciplined and committed to their chosen career paths while stressing the importance of linking environmental protection to public health.

According to him, fieldwork is crucial in understanding the relationship between sanitation, waste management, food safety, and community health.

Jidah further noted that the environmental sector remains fundamental to human survival and emphasised that the level of professionalism displayed by the next generation of environmental officers would determine how effectively challenges are addressed to safeguard quality of life.

The participating students expressed appreciation to KWEPA for the opportunity to observe real-time operations and engage directly with field officers.

They described the training as an eye-opening experience that broadened their knowledge and strengthened their commitment to careers in environmental and public health services.