The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in partnership with Coppercrux Limited, has trained more than 200 youths from the South-South region in practical waste management, public health and safety skills under its Community Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) Awareness Programme.

The five-day training, held in Obudu, Cross River State, from November 10 to 14, 2025, brought together participants from Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers states.

A key component of the programme was the introduction of a colour-coded waste segregation system aimed at improving environmental sanitation and promoting sustainable waste recovery in communities. Participants were trained to use green bins for organic waste, blue for recyclables, red for hazardous materials and black for general waste.

The workshop also featured sessions in public health, including the nine-step handwashing technique and proper deployment of insecticide-treated nets for malaria prevention. In addition, participants received hands-on training in essential life-saving procedures such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), the Heimlich manoeuvre and household fire emergency response.

To ensure continuity, each participating community developed SMART Action Plans, with the formation of Community Health Clubs mandated to drive clean-up exercises, awareness campaigns and peer education.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Paramount Ruler of Obudu commended the organisers and urged participants to apply the skills acquired for community development. He described the training as critical to improving health and environmental outcomes across the region.

The programme reaffirms NCDMB’s commitment, in collaboration with Coppercrux Limited, to strengthening health, safety and environmental consciousness among young people in the Niger Delta.