By Gabriel Ameh
The Young Professionals in Policy and Development (YouPad), in partnership with EcoCykle and Basic Rights Watch (BRW), has taken environmental advocacy to the grassroots with a Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Awareness Workshop and Training held in Gurukum Sama community.
The workshop, which attracted community members, youths, and farmers, sought to raise awareness about the hidden dangers of POPs, their sources in daily life, and their implications for human health and the environment.
Delivering the keynote session, Dr. Ugonna Obi-Emeruwa provided a detailed introduction to POPs, describing them as toxic chemicals that do not break down easily, remain long in the environment, accumulate in living organisms, and pose serious health risks. He emphasized that the chemicals, often found in pesticides, industrial waste, plastics, and household materials, can lead to cancers, developmental issues in children, and damage to wildlife and ecosystems.
Participants also engaged in an interactive role play session moderated by Laurita Boniface, which allowed community members to act out scenarios on how POPs enter their environment and households. The activity simplified complex scientific concepts and made them relatable to everyday realities of farming, food storage, and waste disposal.
Speaking on POPs in farming and household practices, Sophie underscored the dangers of indiscriminate use of chemicals, improper disposal of waste, and burning of plastics. She called on farmers to adopt eco-friendly alternatives and urged households to minimize exposure by making informed choices.
As part of the programme, the team paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of Gurukum Sama community, who welcomed the delegation warmly and commended the organizations for bringing much-needed environmental education to his people.
In his remarks, the Chief said: “We are deeply grateful for this workshop. For many years, our people have suffered from strange illnesses and poor harvests without understanding the causes. Today, you have opened our eyes. On behalf of the Gurukum Sama community, I assure you that we will take this message seriously and work with your organizations to protect our land, our health, and our children.”
In an exclusive interview with Media360Impact, community members expressed gratitude for the training. Mohammed Bin Laden, a participant, said the workshop was an eye-opener. “Most of us never understood the dangers behind burning plastics or using certain chemicals on our farms. Now that we know, we will begin to change our practices to protect our families,” he said.
Similarly, Amina Shuaibu, another participant, described the awareness as timely. “I have children at home, and after today’s session, I will be more careful about what we use in our household. I will also tell my neighbors so that together we can reduce the risks of POPs in our community,” she stated.
The sensitization ended with participants taking a collective pledge to spread awareness on POPs and adopt healthier environmental practices.
