By Kemi Olatunde
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In an attempt to ensure that stakeholders have better understanding of environmental assessment in project sustainability in Ondo State, a sensitisation/awareness workshop has been organised for various sectors of the economy.
The event which had stakeholders including Manufacturers, Hoteliers, Bakers, Oil and Gas etc, was organised by the Ministry of Environment in the state Ondo with the theme; “the role of Environmental Assessment in project sustainability.”
Declaring the event opened, Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Sunday Akinwalire stated that the platform provided the avenue to deliberate on strategies of developing and ensuring that stakeholders’ operations conform with relevant provision of Environmental laws and standards.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Bunmi Alade, Akinwalire said the efforts to fast track environmental sustainability and peace depend on how well they interpret existing outcomes against people’s expectations.
He urged participants to be mindful of the use of the environment noting that climate change, flooding are effects of negative use of the environment.
While calling on residents to be prepared for more rain as predicted by NIMET, he advised that they put up activities that will mitigate flooding in the state.
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary who was represented by the Director, Legal Services, Mrs Stella Adegoke stated that the event is important and sacrosanct in order to flow with the challenges of the environment.
In his goodwill message, Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Mr. Oyeniyi Oseni who was represented by Mr. Funmi Faruwa described people as the environment stating that the environment must be considered before any activity.
Taking participants through a lecture on the theme, Prof. Ayo Olajuyigbe of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, stated that all stakeholders must be brought together for development to be sustainable.
Commending the organisers of the event, he stressed the need for involvement of community leaders in future exercise so as to enable them their roles in project development.
