NGO inducts 102 Kwara pupils as hygiene ambassadors, donates facilities to schools
The Well Being Foundation Africa (WBFA), in partnership with Dettol, has inducted 102 pupils as Hygiene Quest Ambassadors in Ilorin South Local Government Area of Kwara State, urging them to promote cleanliness and healthy practices among their peers.
Speaking at the event in Ilorin, WBFA’s Director of Programming and Reporting, Dr Osinachi Onyeoziri, said the initiative was designed to instil lasting behavioural change in schoolchildren and ensure hygiene practices become a way of life.
“Together, we are nurturing a culture of hygiene and health that will ripple outwards, touching lives and safeguarding futures,” he said, urging the pupils to serve as “leaders, innovators, and changemakers” in their schools and communities.
Represented by the foundation’s National Programmes Manager, Mr Kehinde Akinsola, Onyeoziri explained that the ambassadors would head Hygiene Quest Clubs, where they would lead handwashing demonstrations, campaigns, and WASH activities to keep the programme alive beyond the induction ceremony.
The Kwara Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr Lawal Olohungbebe, described the initiative as “commendable,” noting that it would contribute significantly to the well-being of schoolchildren.
Represented by Mr Taye Odedeji, UNESCO Desk Officer in the ministry, the commissioner assured that government would continue to monitor schools to ensure sustainability.
Similarly, the Education Secretary for Ilorin South, Mr Ibrahim Ahmed, advised the pupils to spread the message of proper handwashing, stressing that it prevents diseases and infections.
Also, the Chairman of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof. Shehu Adaramaja, represented by the Director of Quality Assurance, Mr Adebimpe Idiagbon, said the initiative would help reduce absenteeism by keeping children healthier.
The event featured a spelling bee competition for primary and secondary school pupils, while 51 schools received handwashing workstations donated by WBFA and Dettol to strengthen hygiene practices in schools.
