As part of the drive to end the practice of open defecation, the Federal Ministries of Water Resources and Youth and Sport Development have agreed to partner in the fight against the menaace.
Both ministries agreed on the partnership when the Minister of Water Resources, Engr Suleiman Adamu, led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the Minister of Youth and Sport Development, Mr. Sunday Dare in the Ministry of Sports office, Abuja recently.
Speaking on the purpose of the visit, Engr. Adamu revealed extensive benefits to be derived in ending Open Defecation in Nigeria.
According to him, ending Open Defecation will not only help in curtailing diseases such as cholera, diarrhea and other related ones but will create massive employment opportunities for the teaming Nigerian Youths through the huge investment available from Sanitation Economy.
Adamu noted that the involvement of Nigerian youths, particularly NYSC members in the success of the campaign, cannot be overemphasized, saying that 100 LGAs are already open defecation free, and an entire state, namely Jigawa State, is equally ODF.
He therefore implored his counterpart to key into the programme so as to advance the course meeting the 2025 target year of ending open defecation in Nigeria, adding that there is a huge investment potential of about $6.9 billion in financial terms as presented by the Sanitation Economy.
Welcoming Adamu and his team to the Sport Ministry, Mr. Sunday Dare commended the effort of the Ministry of Water Resources on its consistency in the works of the campaign and expressed his support for the programme and his Ministry’s willingness to collaborate with the Ministry of Water Resources in this stride of ending open defecation in the country.
According to him, “The centrality of Nigerian Youths in this whole process of driving the campaign to end open defecation by 2025 target year in Nigeria gladdens my heart. This effort is important, and creating awareness on open defecation is key. The Youth can help with creating this needed awareness from Federal to the Regional level. “
Mr Dare, therefore, pledged that he would ensure that his ministry in conjunction with NYSC designs a programme that will revolve around ‘Youth in WASH’ and make the youths Ambassadors that will drive the process.
Water, youth ministries partner on ending open defecation
