Students at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) are taking action to create a cleaner and more sustainable campus environment through a successful clean-up initiative led by the University Sustainable Development Goals Club (UNISDGC).
This initiative was done to create a more inclusive and tidy environment, especially in the student’s hall of residence which has been kept untidy. The initiative is in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 6 which is clean water and sanitation. The initiative which aims to foster a cleaner and more sustainable school environment was done by the students picking up dirt around campus.
The Sustainable Development Goals Progress Chart 2023 presents a comprehensive overview of global progress toward the targets outlined in the 17 Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Progress Chart 2023 serves as a companion to the SDG report 2023.
Among the 169 targets, 138 can be assessed based on available global data and analysis conducted by custodian agencies, while 31 targets lack sufficient data or additional analysis for the trend assessment.
However, at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, the clean-up initiative will be the 6th project implemented between 2023 to 2024 and regarded as SDG 6.
Students speak about partaking in the initiative
Yusuf Abdulbasit Hozaifah, a 400-level student of Plant Science voluntarily joined the clean-up initiative to mitigate the menace of an untidy environment. He pointed out that the University hall of residence has been kept uncleaned due to negligence by the students who live in these residences.
“I feel fulfilled being part of the change maker. I believe our planet needs actors that will save it from future disappearance. This can be done through sustainable advocacy,” he said.
Hozaifah’s passion for humanitarianism, community development and climate action has been of great significance within and outside the University environment. He is a member of the Rotaract Club of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto and has led several projects that deal with climate action and community development
“We are the Sustainable Developmental Goal Club, and we believe in the power of sustainability. We won’t engage in a project that won’t be sustainable, so this project will continue, and will make a big impact in our school community” he added.
Before the commencement of the clean-up project, the hostel walkway remained shabby and neglected, the goal of UNISDGC is to ensure persistent cleaning efforts to maintain a habitable campus environment.
Umar Faruq Amori, a 400-level student of Biochemistry and molecular biology expresses his satisfaction towards having the project implemented, before this, Amori was known to be the community leader of SDGs Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto.
Speaking with ASHENEWS, Amori explained how SDGs intend to continue on this legacy adding that the initiative had raised awareness about the importance of proper waste management and sanitation practices.
“Our clean-up project will run fortnightly to maintain a clean and habitable campus environment”, he stated.
He explained that during the first project, the wastes were sorted into two categories: plastics and others. He disclosed that the plastics were given to recyclers and the other wastes were disposed of at the official dump site in the state through the state waste management team. He also hopes to find more innovative uses for the waste in the future.
“Despite the challenges faced, we are proud of our achievements. Our events have attracted many enthusiastic youths. Most of them who participated in the clean-up activity were not members and this activity made them join our club. We contribute to the global effort towards achieving SDG 6 and creating a more sustainable future for all”, he concluded.
Muhammad Shuaib Bashir, a 500-level student of Agriculture and the Deputy Community Leader of SDGs UDUS revealed how glad he was at having the project implemented successfully under his tenure as an executive. “Our desire to clean up the university environment is one of our ultimate goals.
“Walkway being an area that links the University premises and hall of the environment should never be left untidied. Within our limited capacity, we hope to continue offering this community development services”, he added.
