By Abdullahi Lukman
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its partnership with the World Toilet Organization to accelerate efforts toward ending open defecation and improving sanitation across Nigeria.
The Founder of the World Toilet Organization, Professor Dr. Jack Sim, was received on Tuesday in Abuja by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Dr. Emanso Okop Umobong, alongside the ministry’s management team on behalf of the Minister, Engr. Joseph Terlumun Utsev.
Discussions at the meeting focused on strengthening collaboration through the Clean Nigeria Campaign by adopting global best practices, innovative sanitation solutions, and successful international models to improve hygiene standards nationwide.
Speaking during the engagement, Dr. Umobong described Dr. Jack Sim’s contributions to global sanitation advocacy as transformative, stressing that sanitation is critical to public health, human dignity, economic growth, and sustainable development.
She appreciated the World Toilet Organization for its continued support toward achieving universal access to sanitation services in Nigeria and noted that the partnership aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at improving water supply, sanitation, hygiene, and environmental sustainability.
The Permanent Secretary also recalled Nigeria’s hosting of the World Toilet Summit 2022, which strengthened the country’s commitment to ending open defecation through increased awareness campaigns and the expansion of Community-Led Total Sanitation initiatives.
She, however, identified rapid urbanization, population growth, and limited access to safely managed sanitation services as major challenges, calling for stronger collaboration among government agencies, development partners, private organizations, civil society groups, and local communities.
In his remarks, Dr. Jack Sim emphasized that sanitation should not be treated as the responsibility of government alone, but as a collective mission involving communities, the media, private sector players, influencers, and traditional institutions.
He noted that public awareness, behavioural change, and community participation are essential to achieving lasting sanitation reforms and pledged continued collaboration with Nigeria to achieve an Open Defecation Free status.
The meeting also featured contributions from ministry directors and development partners, including Self Help Africa, which reaffirmed support for sanitation improvement initiatives across the country.
The National Coordinator of the Clean Nigeria Campaign, Mrs. Chizoba Opara, commended stakeholders for their continued commitment to addressing Nigeria’s sanitation challenges through inclusive and sustainable approaches.
fg, world toilet organization strengthen sanitation partnership
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its partnership with the World Toilet Organization to accelerate efforts toward ending open defecation and improving sanitation across Nigeria.
The Founder of the World Toilet Organization,
Professor Dr. Jack Sim, was received on Tuesday in Abuja by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Dr. Emanso Okop Umobong, alongside the ministry’s management team on behalf of the Minister, Engr. Joseph Terlumun Utsev.
Discussions at the meeting focused on strengthening collaboration through the Clean Nigeria Campaign by adopting global best practices, innovative sanitation solutions, and successful international models to improve hygiene standards nationwide.
Speaking during the engagement, Dr. Umobong described Dr. Jack Sim’s contributions to global sanitation advocacy as transformative, stressing that sanitation is critical to public health, human dignity, economic growth, and sustainable development.
She appreciated the World Toilet Organization for its continued support toward achieving universal access to sanitation services in Nigeria and noted that the partnership aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at improving water supply, sanitation, hygiene, and environmental sustainability.
The Permanent Secretary also recalled Nigeria’s hosting of the World Toilet Summit 2022, which strengthened the country’s commitment to ending open defecation through increased awareness campaigns and the expansion of Community-Led Total Sanitation initiatives.
She, however, identified rapid urbanization, population growth, and limited access to safely managed sanitation services as major challenges, calling for stronger collaboration among government agencies, development partners, private organizations, civil society groups, and local communities.
In his remarks, Dr. Jack Sim emphasized that sanitation should not be treated as the responsibility of government alone, but as a collective mission involving communities, the media, private sector players, influencers, and traditional institutions.
He noted that public awareness, behavioural change, and community participation are essential to achieving lasting sanitation reforms and pledged continued collaboration with Nigeria to achieve an Open Defecation Free status.
The meeting also featured contributions from ministry directors and development partners, including Self Help Africa, which reaffirmed support for sanitation improvement initiatives across the country.
The National Coordinator of the Clean Nigeria Campaign, Mrs. Chizoba Opara, commended stakeholders for their continued commitment to addressing Nigeria’s sanitation challenges through inclusive and sustainable approaches.
