By Faridat Salifu
In recognition of World Toilet Day 2024, Nature News hosted a webinar addressing the theme A Place for Peace, focusing on the critical link between sanitation, peace, and security in conflict-affected regions.
The webinar highlighted the crucial role sanitation plays in public health and its impact on the stability of vulnerable communities. Global experts emphasized the urgent need for action to address the sanitation crisis, particularly in areas ravaged by war and instability.
Eliza Herald, a renowned water advocate and founder of Water Unity Networks, was a featured speaker at the event. She stressed that World Toilet Day provides an important platform not only for raising awareness but also for pushing forward the implementation of programs aimed at addressing public health emergencies caused by poor sanitation.
“World Toilet Day is vital for promoting public health responses and advancing sustainable development in conflict zones,” Herald said. She also reminded participants of the importance of meeting Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 — ensuring access to clean water and sanitation for all in addressing these pressing challenges.
The webinar also spotlighted the global sanitation crisis, with more than 673 million people worldwide still lacking access to basic sanitation.
Experts emphasized that inadequate toilet facilities, especially in public spaces, have far-reaching consequences for public health, dignity, and security.
Miss Rhoda Oniyele, a public health professor and expert in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), addressed the role of education in overcoming sanitation barriers. “It’s not just about building toilets; it’s about creating a culture of hygiene and healthy living,” said Oniyele, who is also pursuing a doctorate in disease prevention.
She stressed the importance of targeting vulnerable populations, such as out-of-school children and adolescents under five, in WASH interventions.
The webinar featured participation from key figures at Nature News Africa, including Chief Operating Officer Pius Alabi and Managing Director Rashid Yusuf. Though Editor-in-Chief Mr Akorshile Aliyu was unable to attend due to prior commitments at COP29 in Azerbaijan, the organization’s support for the event was clear.
The event concluded with a call for continued advocacy and collaboration to raise awareness about the sanitation crisis and implement long-term solutions, particularly in conflict-ridden areas. Nature News Africa, through its NGO arm, the Climatical Media Initiative South (Camic), has made strides in environmental and sanitation advocacy, with initiatives such as the Jabi Lake Cleanup and school-based tree-planting projects.
The World Toilet Day 2024 webinar reinforced the message that access to a safe and dignified toilet is a basic human right, not a luxury. As the world works toward achieving SDG 6, the call to action is clear: no one should be left behind in the pursuit of sanitation and clean water.
Barka Isaiah, a WASH engineer with the Jireh Doo Foundation, discussed the importance of sanitation in disease prevention. “World Toilet Day underscores the global sanitation crisis and the need for access to clean, safe toilets as a basic human right,” he said. Isaiah pointed out that poor sanitation leads to environmental contamination, contributing to the spread of diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, and typhoid.
He stressed that improving sanitation is aligned with the United Nations’ SDG 6, which aims to provide water and sanitation for all by 2030.
Despite global progress, Nigeria remains the country with the highest rate of open defecation, surpassing India in 2024. During the webinar, experts examined the factors contributing to Nigeria’s sanitation crisis and explored potential solutions.
Miss Rhoda Oniyele noted that education and awareness are key in addressing the issue of open defecation. “Many people still practice open defecation due to cultural beliefs or a lack of understanding about the health risks,” she said. “We need to educate communities about these dangers and provide alternatives.” She emphasized the importance of community engagement and collaboration with policymakers to drive behavioral change.
Miss Eliza Herald echoed the need for education but also underscored the importance of improving infrastructure. “In many developing countries, people simply don’t have access to toilets, which forces them to resort to open defecation,” she said. “Innovative solutions like composting toilets or biogas systems could help address this issue while also providing added value by converting waste into usable resources, such as fuel.”
The conversation also turned to the role of public toilets in reducing open defecation. Isaiah noted that increasing the availability of public toilets, particularly in underserved areas, could help mitigate the practice. However, he cautioned that the success of such facilities depends on proper maintenance and active community involvement. “It’s not enough to just build toilets; communities need to take responsibility for maintaining them,” he said.
The experts also discussed innovative solutions such as biogas production from human waste.miss Eliza highlighted that converting waste into biofuel or compost not only reduces environmental contamination but also creates a sustainable energy source. “However, these solutions will only succeed if communities understand their value and take ownership of the systems,” she noted.
In response to a question about Nigeria’s attitude toward sanitation, Isaiah emphasized the need for strong collaboration between the government, NGOs, and local communities. “To change behaviors and overcome resistance to sanitation efforts, we need robust policies, community-led programs, and local education on the health risks of open defecation,” he said. “Sanitation is a collective responsibility, and it starts at the household level.”
Ultimately, the experts agreed that World Toilet Day should not just be about raising awareness, but also about inspiring tangible action. “We must work together to ensure that everyone has access to clean, safe toilets,” Isaiah concluded. “This is essential for public health, environmental sustainability, and human dignity.”
As Nigeria and other nations continue to face the challenges of open defecation, the call to action is clear: improving sanitation and hygiene practices at the community level is critical for building a healthier, more sustainable future.