Operation Keep Nsit Ubium Clean: “KENU”

By Nath Okoko 

The strategic importance of a cleaner environment as bedrock upon which development and economic prosperity rest has been an area of concern to the government of the day, especially with the implementation of the monthly sanitation by the Akwa Ibom State Government.

Generally, the attitude of Nigerians towards environmental sanitation is not positive as many have refused to make cleanliness a prime issue in spite of long established environmental sanitation laws, formal governmental structures to address cleaner environment issues and numerous campaigns on the same. The difficulty of Nigerians in allowing modernity and education to change their attitude towards orderliness has sadly made unclean environment a normal syndrome in our daily life.

In spite of the resistance factors which may be traced to lack of proper orientation and awareness, laziness, avoidance, and lack of good relationship among the youths, the community heads and the Government, etc., it is an obvious fact that, everyone loves to stay in a clean and green environment and always dream of a clean and pollution free environment. This is agreeing with the law of divinity which says that, “cleanliness is next to godliness”. It is on this note that, KENU was set afloat.

On Saturday, 22nd of April 2023, Christy Empire Foundation (CHEMFON) launched their first sanitary project termed: KENU which took place in Ikot Eyo and Ikot Edibon respectively to keep the environment clean and beautiful. The project is designed as a monthly routine to support the State Government' campaign for a clean and healthy environment, and to promote the bond of love, peace, and unity among the people. It will interest one to know that the team does not just clean, they provide cleaning equipments and waste disposal can (trash bin) to the communities.

The April edition, as seen in the attached pictures, was a massive success. It attracted the interest of the youths, the women, and the elders, including the village heads and the youth leaders. 

KENU, an acronym for Keep Nsit Ubium Clean, is a sanitary project initiated by Queen Christiana Owonam  to keep the communities in Nsit Ubium Clean, Serene and Healthy. KENU consists of formidable and zealous young people from the 64 villages that constitutes the Local Government Area. 

The cardinal objectives of the project are:

✓ To create and maintain a clean, beautiful and healthy environment.

✓ To create a strong bond of love, peace, and Unity among the youths, the women, and the elders.

✓ To foster Youth Involvement in community services.

✓ To boost the efforts of the government and other relevant institutions towards environmental reparation 

✓ To cultivate the right mindset among the youths for creativity, innovation, and relevance.

✓ To attract the interest of the government,  and the redressal agencies towards youth empowerment.