Dettol, a leading hygiene brand, in partnership with the Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), has inducted 34 students from Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State as Hygiene Ambassadors.
The induction ceremony, held in the Olunlade area, was aimed at promoting a culture of hygiene and health among young people. The Director of Programming at WBFA, Mr. Williams Awotunde, said the initiative is designed to instill lifelong hygiene habits that extend beyond schools into homes and communities.
“Together, we are nurturing a culture of hygiene and health that will ripple outwards, touching lives and safeguarding futures,” Awotunde said.
He urged the newly inducted ambassadors to embrace the opportunity and become champions of hygiene excellence in their schools and communities. Represented by WBFA’s National Programmes Manager, Mr. Kehinde Akinsola, Awotunde said the induction marks the beginning of a journey in which the students become torchbearers for change.
To ensure sustainability, he said WBFA and its partner, Reckitt Benckiser (makers of Dettol), are establishing Hygiene Quest Clubs in schools. These clubs, led by the student ambassadors, will promote hygiene education and advocacy long after the conclusion of the workshops.
“These clubs will ensure that hygiene education and advocacy continue after the banners are down and workshops are concluded,” Awotunde explained.
He added that the ambassadors will lead handwashing demonstrations, hygiene campaigns, and other Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) activities in their schools, keeping momentum alive.
“Your role is to inspire your peers, engage your teachers, and influence your communities. I am incredibly proud to say that you are not just participants; you are leaders, innovators, and changemakers,” he stated.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe, commended the initiative, saying it would improve students’ overall well-being. He was represented by the Deputy Director and Desk Officer, Mr. Yisa Joshua, who encouraged the students to share the knowledge gained with their peers.
The Education Secretary for Ifelodun Local Government, Comrade Julius Oyebanji, described the workshop as timely, while Mrs. Aminat Ahmed, an Assistant Director at the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), expressed appreciation to WBFA and Dettol for the impactful programme.
The event also featured a spelling bee competition, where winners emerged in both junior and senior categories. Seventeen schools received handwashing stations for their newly established Hygiene Quest Clubs.
Students were also taught proper handwashing techniques to help prevent the spread of germs.
