By: Theresa Donatus, Uyo.
The morning of Saturday, August 16, 2025, broke with unusual activity across neighborhoods in Uyo. Instead of business as usual, streets buzzed with men, women, and youths in reflective vests, armed with rakes, shovels, and brooms. Their mission was simple but vital, to clean the drains, sweep the streets, and make the community healthier.
It was the All Africa Service Project, an annual initiative of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where members dedicate a day to community service. But for Uyo residents, the effort carried a deeper meaning; it was a lifeline for sanitation and hygiene.
Across nine wards in the Uyo Nigeria Stake, volunteers and community members rolled up their sleeves. At Etim Okon Usanga and Udo Idiong Nka Streets, they unclogged drains choked with silt and plastic waste, freeing the flow of water that had long been a cause of localized flooding.
At Nsentip Street, the team filled failed road portions to improve access for pedestrians and vehicles.
In health centers from Ibiaku Ishiet to Ifa Atai, surroundings were swept, and refuse cleared, creating cleaner environments for patients, particularly mothers and children who frequently visits the facilities.
For traders at Ikot Ubo Market and residents of Nsukara Offot, the exercise meant safer spaces to sell food and conduct business without the risks of open refuse and stagnant water.
The cleanup resonated strongly with Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) priorities. Poor drainage, blocked water channels, and uncollected waste have been leading causes of cholera, typhoid, and malaria outbreaks in many Nigerian cities.
By desilting water channels and removing refuse, the volunteers directly reduced mosquito breeding grounds and helped protect their communities from preventable disease.
The service project drew wide participation, including journalists, traditional leaders, and ordinary residents.
At Etim Okon Usanga, the NUJ Akwa Ibom Council Chairman, Comrade Nsibiet John, and State Secretary, Comrade Nsikak Esenewo, joined in sweeping and clearing drains.
John, visibly moved by the turnout, described the exercise as a lesson in shared responsibility: “This is a demonstration of true love and concern for humanity. If more organizations follow this path, our environment will be cleaner, and our people will live healthier lives.”
Speaking with our correspondent, Uyo Nigeria Stake President, Adiel Okon Ntuk, who coordinated the effort, explained that the project is voluntary, without financial incentives.
“We do this to follow the Savior’s example of service and sacrifice. Clean surroundings mean healthy families, safe water, and stronger communities,” he said.
Ntuk added that similar projects were carried out the same day across Nigeria and other African countries, underscoring the Church’s growing role in grassroots WASH interventions.
For many residents, the benefits go beyond one day of service. Clean drains mean fewer floods during the rainy season.
Swept markets mean safer food handling and Sanitized health centers mean lower risks of infection.
The yearly project has not only improved environmental health but also strengthened community spirit, with neighbors working side by side to solve shared problems.
As the sun set on the day’s work, the sight of cleared drains and clean streets stood as a visible reminder that public health begins with simple acts of community care.
The All Africa Service Project may be faith-driven, but in Uyo, it has become much more of a citizens’ campaign for sanitation, hygiene, and healthier living.
