WORLD TOILET DAY: UNICEF LEADS CAMPAIGN TO END OPEN DEFECATION IN NIGERIA
REPORTER: EMEFIENA OKONKWO
The Chief of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Enugu Field Office, Dr. Ibrahim Conteh, has called for concerted efforts towards ensuring that all Nigerians have access to safe toilets and end open defecation in the country.
Dr. Conteh made the call during a one day Zonal Media Dialogue on 2021 World Toilet Day, in Enugu, organized by UNICEF in collaboration with Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State, BCA.
Dr. Conteh, who noted with concern that as many as forty-six million Nigerians still defecated in the open, listed kwara, Plateau and Ebonyi States as states with the highest rates of open defecation in the country, while Abia, Zamfara and Akwa-Ibom have the lowest rates.
The Chief of UNICEF Field Office, Enugu, however, appreciated the efforts and committment of the Federal Government towards ensuring that Nigerians end open defecation,as seen in the declaration of state of emergency in Water, Sanitization and Hygiene (WASH) as well as the launch of “Clean Nigeria: Use the toilet campaign” of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Also, speaking on the 2021 World Toilet Day, the Special Adviser to Enugu State Governor on Water Resources, Chief Anthony Dubem-Onyia, pledged sustained collaboration between the state and UNICEF on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, as well as other key areas.
Chief Dubem-Onyia, who also represented the Commissioner for Water Resources, thanked UNICEF for its efforts towards making the state Open Defecation Free.
In keynote lectures, the Communication Officer UNICEF,Enugu Field Office, Dr. Ijeoma Onuoha-Ogwe; WASH specialists, Mr. Doutimiye Kiakubu; and Mrs. Maureen Zuby-Okolo, alongside a Sanitation Advocate, Mr. Sam-Adejoh Okedi, urged governments and the people to be in the fore-front of ending open defecation in the country.
The participants pledged to disseminate information and messages that would promote ending open defecation in the country.
The theme of the 2021 World Toilet Day is, “Valuing Toilets.”