Event in Akure, Nigeria, kicks off while other on-site activities are postponed
The 2020 Mundus maris asbl World Ocean Day (MM WOD) in Akure, Nigeria, was celebrated on June 8. Due to the COVID-19 and the National lockdown, the celebration was a low-key event in the State. The event was marked with the Community Sanitation Service (CSS) of the MM Youngster Club; sensitisation on the use of face masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and Web participation for anybody from the Staff Secondary School, Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) at home as a result of the National Lockdown.
Earlier, Prof. Stella Williams, Vice President of Mundus maris asbl, extended her Goodwill message and conveyed greetings of the organisation to us in Akure. In the course of the Community Sanitation Service (CSS), Dr. I. B. Famuwagun of the School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology (SAAT), FUTA, briefed the participants on the UN theme of this year’s World Ocean Day: “Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean”.
In his address, he highlighted the importance of keeping the Ocean healthy and said it was everyone's duty to join in restoring and protecting the Ocean. He also applauded the MM Youngsters Club on their efforts in making sure the Ocean is free from plastic products especially through their monthly CSS. Ten (10) members of the Aqualife 7000 Club (FUTA Division) joined the Mundus maris in the celebration.
Dr. Lydia M. Adeleke enlightened the participants on the importance of using a face masks in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Her emphasis was on the non-medical fabric face masks. She emphasised on how to wear and clean, how and when to remove and how to manufacture the face masks locally.
The WHO New Guidance on Homemade face mask handbills were distributed along with the customised MM face masks to all the participants as souvenir (Courtesy: Prof. O.A. Fagbenro and Dr. Lydia M. Adeleke, FUTA).
Dr. Felicia Wole-Alo of the Department of Agricultural Extension and Communication Technology, FUTA and Mr. C. B. Ajayi of the Staff Secondary School, FUTA (the Co-Coordinator of the Mundus maris yearly quiz competition) advised the participants on good personal hygiene.
He implored them to keep the Ocean safe in order for people to stay safe and healthy eating fish products.
The first Lady of Ondo State, Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has been associating with MM Akure. Good will messages were also received via phone messages from
- Prof. J. A. Fuwape, Vice Chancellor of FUTA,
- Prof. T. T. Amos, Dean, SAAT, FUTA,
- Prof. O. A. Fagbenro, Chairman, LOC of MM, Akure,
- Mr. Anthony Ikuyinminu, Principal of the Staff Secondary School, FUTA,
- and other well-wishers.
The event took place between 9.00am and 10:30am. Thirty-Six (36) participants were in attendance, while, other participants joined the MM WOD celebration online via this link.
More than thirty (30) participants send in their contributions via the link at the time of writing this report.
The Local Organising Committee (LOC) was composed of Prof. O. A. Fagbenro (Chairman), Dr. Lydia M. Adeleke, Dr. O. K. Gbadamosi, Dr. A.A. Adelodun, and Dr. Olawusi-Peters.
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