Abuja – The Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation has partnered with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to address open defecation and sanitation challenges across Nigeria.
At a workshop in Abuja, Mr. Richard Pheelangwah, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, highlighted the partnership’s objectives. Represented by Mr. Moses Jo-Madugu, the Director of Reforms and Coordination, Pheelangwah underscored the government’s efforts through initiatives like the Partnership for Expanded Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, and Sustainable Urban and Rural Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene programs.
“The Clean Nigeria Campaign is a vital call to action,” said Pheelangwah. “We are eager to collaborate with the NYSC to mobilize Corps members across the nation. Through your CDS activities, we aim to spark a sanitation revolution to end open defecation.”
The Ministry recently launched its updated Strategic Plan on November 19, 2024, which aligns with the YouthWASH Strategy. “With your active participation, we can speed up progress toward our shared goal,” he added.
Mrs. Elizabeth Ugoh, Director of Water Quality Control and Sanitation, welcomed participants and explained the purpose of the workshop. “This training will equip NYSC officers with the necessary tools to support the Clean Nigeria Campaign,” she said. She also stressed that the campaign’s success depends on building a passionate community committed to improving sanitation.
Mrs. Funmilayo Ajayi, representing the NYSC, pledged to collaborate with the Ministry to raise awareness about hygiene and sanitation at the grassroots level.
Mrs. Chizoba Opara, National Coordinator of the Clean Nigeria, Use the Toilet Campaign, emphasized that ensuring a defecation-free Nigeria is everyone’s responsibility. She noted that the partnership would focus on community awareness campaigns to promote behavior change.
Mr. Nature Obiakor, National Coordinator of the YouthWASH Initiative Africa, shared that the National YouthWASH Strategic Framework was introduced in 2023 to increase youth engagement in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) efforts. He called for greater collaboration from stakeholders in the water sector, emphasizing that the partnership supports national and global goals, including the Clean Nigeria Campaign and Sustainable Development Goals.
The two-day workshop, organized in partnership with Self Help Africa, involved participants from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The event aimed to strengthen collaboration between the Ministry and grassroots organizations to achieve sanitation goals.
