24/06/2026
*JDPC Commemorates World Environment Day 2026 with Multi-stakeholder Partnership Meeting on Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development.*
As part of activities marking World Environment Day 2026, the Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), Catholic Diocese of Ijebu-Ode, on 24th June 2026, convened a multi-stakeholder dialogue on environmental sustainability, bringing together government agencies, academia, media practitioners, community leaders, recyclers, and environmental experts.
Participants included representatives of Estate Developers, the Media, Community Development Associations (CDAs), Waste Recyclers, Local Government Water and Environmental Sanitation Officers across Ogun East Senatorial District, the Zonal Education Office (Ijebu-Ode), the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA), the Permanent Secretary, Local Government Service Commission, represented by the Head of Local Government Administration (HOLGA), Odogbolu, and scholars from Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) and Tai Solarin Federal University of Education (TASFUED), Coalition of Women Association in Ogun State (COWAOS), All Farmers Association (AFAN), Ijebu Land, Ogun State Polytechnic of Health and Allied Sciences, (OSPOHAS, Ilese – Ijebu, POGIL College of Health Technology (POCHTECH), Ijebu-Ode, Association of Small Scale Agro-Producers in Nigeria (ASSAPIN), Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON), Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, (JONAPWD), Nigerian Association of Refrigeration and Air conditioning Practitioners (NARAP), Ijebu Chapter.
The event provided a platform for robust discussions on pressing environmental issues such as deforestation, waste management, environmental pollution, climate change, and sustainable development practices. Participants shared experiences, identified challenges, and collectively developed practical action plans aimed at promoting a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable environment within Ogun East and beyond.
Delivering the keynote presentation, Prof. Ifegbesan Ayodeji Peter of the Department of Arts and Social Sciences Education highlighted the urgent need for collective environmental responsibility and emphasized the role of education, advocacy, and community participation in addressing environmental challenges.
Addressing concerns over the recent gas-like odour experienced in parts of Ijebu-Ode and neighbouring communities, Mr. B. S. Lawal, Director of Hazardous Materials Management and Environmental Safety, OGEPA, assured participants that the Ogun State Government is actively investigating the situation and taking necessary measures to safeguard residents. He reiterated that government agencies remain committed to identifying the source and implementing appropriate interventions.
This assurance was corroborated by the Zonal Education Officer (ZEO), Ijebu-Ode, Mrs Ola Eniola, who explained that the temporary relocation of students from affected schools was undertaken purely as a precautionary measure and in the best interest of the safety and well-being of learners.
JDPC appreciates all stakeholders who participated in the event and reaffirmed its commitment to promoting environmental justice, sustainable development, and collaborative action towards protecting our common home.
