Three non-governmental organisations have donated hygiene products to public primary schools in Kwara State in order to encourage good sanitary habits in the institutions.

The three NGOs in partnership with Survivors Foundation are Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN), Royal Heritage Foundation (RHHF) and Living Care Community Foundation (LCCDF). Unilever Nigeria plc also supplied some personal hygiene products. Items donated included toiletries, body creams, sanitisers, toothpastes and treated nets. Others were roll-ons and body sprays.

At the launch of the programme in Ilorin, the state capital, the coordinator of the NGOs, Hajia Nimat Labaika said the associations urged the people to observe personal hygiene in their environments.

"What we are doing here today is to showcase what we will replicate in rural areas to support vulnerable learners," she said.

She also urged corporate organisations and public-spirited individuals to borrow a leaf from Unilever Nigeria Plc.

Representative of the Education Sector Support Programme in Nigeria (ESSPIN), Mrs. Folake Ajayi said that giving to the less privileged is lending to God.

She added, "This is one of the easiest ways to receive God's blessing and it is a challenge to everybody."

State Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Alhaji Musa Yeketi represented by his permanent secretary, Hajia Mariam Garba saluted the courage of the benefactors to encourage cleanliness in "our schools."

The commissioner also urged people "with the meek of human kindness to contribute their quota to make the society a better place to live in. Cleanliness is next to godliness. If we have clean homes we will have clean environment and if we have clean environment we will have clean children."

Performing the symbolic presentation of some of the material to the pupils, Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajia Asiat A. Saka said "it is heartwarming to note that this donation is coming at the time when some states of the nation are facing a challenge that borders on hygienic living habits, cleanliness and keeping our environment free of the rats that carry the dreaded Lassa virus.

"These materials that we are distributing today will assist beneficiaries to practice and maintain hand washing routine which will ultimately promote personal hygiene and enable then remain healthy.

"I call on other non-governmental organisations, corporate bodies, private individuals and philanthropists to emulate this kind gesture by joining hands with the state government in its determination to promote and deliver quality healthcare to all and sundry."