By Abiodun Busari |
WaterAid Nigeria has disclosed that it is committed to reaching 10 million people with Water, Sanitation and Hygiene projects in the next five years from now.
The charity organisation dedicated to transforming the lives of the world’s poorest people by improving access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene, said it would achieve this feat by working closely with other civil society organisation, and journalists among others.
WaterAid said despite recording some achievements in the last 27 years, there are more development projects to record saying, “That millions are currently denied access to these three essentials is a national crisis that compromises their health, disempowers and impoverishes them.”
The organisation Thursday said this on its website in statement tagged, ‘Country Programme Strategy 2023-2028.’
It also reiterated its goal as “to influence, deliver and scale-up WASH solutions that are sustainable, climate-resilient, gender-responsive and address key cross-cutting elements of other development goals including health, education, poverty, economic growth, and nutrition.”
In achieving this, WaterAid said, “By 2028, our ambition is to reach 10,000,000 people directly through our interventions with basic WASH services and behaviours. Working collaboratively with the government of Nigeria and other key partners in development, media, academia, private sector, and civil society space, we further seek to influence improved basic WASH access for 17,000,000 more people.
“Safe, inclusive and sustainable WASH is not only key to achieving a full and healthy life, but it also underpins the realisation of national, socio-economic development. WASH enhances citizens ability to maximise their potentials and realise their rights. That millions are currently denied access to these three essentials is a national crisis that compromises their health, disempowers and impoverishes them.”
About its past records and future targets, it said, “In the past 27 years, WaterAid Nigeria has been working towards the day when everyone in the country has access to sustainable and safe WASH services.
“Whilst some progress has been made, facilitated by political will at the federal level, it is necessary to support the development of a strong enabling environment to create the nationwide impact required.
“Our new strategy, bolder and more ambitious than the last, lays out our blueprint for maximising the emerging opportunities through systemic change and accelerating impact over the next five years.”
WaterAid added, “We are committed to the full implementation of this strategy to achieve the objectives and outcomes. We call on the government, donors, media, private sector and other partners to join us in creating and delivering a monumental shift that will transform water, sanitation and hygiene services for entire communities and towns and unlock better futures for everyone, everywhere in Nigeria.”
Speaking about the achievement of the organisation, Honourable Minister of Water Resources, Engr Suleiman Adamu, “WaterAid Nigeria has been a very visible stakeholder in the Nigerian water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector. They have also consistently supported and played key roles in many of government initiatives.”
During the launch of our new Country Programme Strategy, WaterAid was privileged to have the Honourable Minister of Water Resources, officially unveiled the Strategy document, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack.
