By Yemi Jutty
Ado Ekiti
24/10/2023
In continuation of the efforts to meeting the target of ending open defecation by 2025, as projected by the United Nation’s SDGs, the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has commenced moves towards implementing the strategic framework on YOUTHWASH in the South West Zone.
The permanent secretary of the ministry Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar who flagged off a two day stakeholders’ engagement on Clean Nigeria and sanitation in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti state said important to mobilize and engage more youth to demand for access and rights to water and sanitation in communities as well as end open defecation.
Abubakar who was represented by a director in the Ministry Mr. Emmanuel Agbachini spoke on the topic; empowering the future; a comprehensive National Youth WASH strategic Framework for Nigeria. He stressed the need to brainstorm on practicable ways to implementing the document, particularly, with youths taking active and leading roles in the campaign.
Representatives and leaders of different youth organizations including the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Students associations, and Corp members across the sixteen local government areas, civil society organizations as well and non-governmental including the Bread of Life Development Foundation and NIGAWD participated at the event.
Taking participants through different sessions, the facilitator, Mr. Nature Echenna- Obiakor said that over 47 million persons in Nigeria still practice open defecation, noting that low political commitment, poor maintenance culture, poor sector funding, poor social mobilization among other factors continue to inhibit the drive towards total eradication of the practice in the country.
Participants were who were divided into groups were exposed on ways to creating initiatives, entrepreneurial opportunities as well as exploring partnerships with WASH stakeholders in their localities, after which the groups made paper presentations.
The CEO of the Bread of Life Development Foundation, Dr Babatope Babalobi who was represented by an official, Mr Yemi Olajutemu commended the federal government and the Ministry for the initiative, calling for more collaboration with Environmental Health Officers at the local government area as well as the prosecution of households without improved toilet facilities.