KWEPA Trains Students on Public Health and Environmental Protection

The Kwara State Environmental Protection Agency (KWEPA) has conducted a hands-on training exercise for students from the Kwara State College of Health Technology, Offa, and the University of Ilorin, as part of efforts to strengthen capacity in public health management and environmental protection.

The exercise was designed to bridge the gap between classroom theory and field practice, exposing students to real-world challenges in waste management, food hygiene, and sanitation.

Students undertook guided field visits to facilities including the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Funsho Bakery, and the Akerebiata Abattoir. At each location, they were introduced to critical aspects of environmental health such as hospital waste disposal systems, bakery hygiene standards, and abattoir sanitation protocols.

KWEPA officials stressed the importance of discipline, focus, and passion in pursuing careers in environmental and scientific services, noting that fieldwork remains essential in understanding the link between environmental protection and public health. As the students described the training as eye-opening and said the exposure had broadened their understanding while reinforcing their interest in environmental health careers. The initiative is part of KWEPA’s mandate to promote environmental sustainability in Kwara State through human capital development. By collaborating with academic institutions, the Agency continues to prepare a skilled workforce to tackle sanitation, food safety, and waste management challenges while safeguarding public health.

Written by Adeyemi Adewale