Nicodemus Wilderness Project -- Global Registry of Apprentice Ecologists

The site is a place in Dutse market, Dutse, Jigawa State, where fowls are killed and dressed for individual, sellers and others. The site is characterized by highly offensive odour as a result of decayed feathers and chicken parts not disposed. Also found in this site is stagnant dirty water with odour and piles of dirt both in bags and on the flour making the place look very dirty and unhealthy for such an activity.
ACTIVITIES: The activities carried out to ensure the realization of this goal are Sensitization and Environmental Sanitation.
ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIZATION: On the 1st and 8th of July, 2011 about five workers at the site were sensitized on the need of maintaining a clean Environment.
They were made to understand that pollution of the Environment can lead to serious Health problems such as Fungal and Bacterial diseases. It can also lead to food contamination. Also they were told that dirtiness of the site can in the long run cause them to loose their customers and hence decrease sales. They were encouraged to clean up the place daily and dispose the refuse.
After the sensitization, members were allowed the opportunity to air the view, part of their responses was that they lack waste bin, insecticides, lack of channel for out flow of dirty water and improper disposal of generated waste and that all these contribute to the dirtiness of the place. They also said that they will try their best to adhere to all that they were told but pleaded that they should be provided with the materials mentioned above.
NOTE: Follow up was done as part of the Sensitization Activity.
ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION: The Environmental Sanitation at the site was carried out on the 30th of July, 2011. The volunteer and the workers at the site cleaned up the site by packing the refuse in bags, wash and scrubbing the ground and tables for cutting chicken and spraying with insecticides to kill flies and reduce odour. About seven persons did the work. The volunteer provided the workers with waste bin, rake, scrubber and detergent.
After the cleaning the workers were told to keep on with this habit of proper cleaning and waste disposal to ensure sustainability.
The challenges I faced while carrying out this project are lack of support by some of the workers, lack of protection equipment like nose mask, inability to dispose the waste, lack of adequate waste bin, lack of adequate insecticides and finally communication problem.
The project has made me to know that no matter how dirty an environment can be, sanity could be restored and continuous sensitization backed with action can yield great result.
CONCLUSION: To ensure sustainability of this project I intend to provide adequate waste bin, insecticide and ensure strict follow up. Also I will within my capacity to see that waste are disposed regularly at this site.
The project has really enhanced more conducive atmosphere for the workers and their customers. In the future, I intend to erect a shade over the site and create a channel that will enhance proper outflow of waste water.
RECOMMENDATION: Government agencies should conduct seminars to further enlighten the workers on environmental issues and their problems. Also government should ensure that the basic needs of the workers at the site are provided. On the part of the community, daily cleaning and disposal of waste will enhance sustainability.