World Toilet Day 2009

Leading by example, WaterAid Nigeria staff participating in the 'Big Squat'

Credit: WaterAid

 19 November 2009

Call to implement the eThekwini Commitments on Sanitation

The eThikwini Declaration is a commitment made by Ministers and Heads of Delegation responsible for sanitation from 32 African countries at the Second Conference on Sanitation and Hygiene (AfricaSan). Under this Declaration governments pledged themselves to the eThekwini commitments. WaterAid Nigeria organised a one-day media advocacy to commemorate this year's World Toilet Day.

It was a memorable event that brought together 30 participants from both print and broadcast media, members of the National Task Group on Sanitation and civil society.  It was an opportunity to remind all stakeholders in the water and sanitation sector, including government, policy and decision-makers as well as other development partners of commitments made to deliver safe water and sanitation to Nigerians as declared in the eThekwini Declaration. The call specifically focused on the following action points:

• Approve the draft national plan to meet the MDG target
• Increase budgetary allocation to water and sanitation to at least 0.5% of GDP
• Include sanitation in Nigeria's poverty reduction strategy document
• National monitoring and evaluation systems in sanitation programmes
• Specific public sector budget line for sanitation
• Adopt inclusive approaches to water and sanitation in Nigeria that address the needs of the most vulnerable people (the poor, women, children, the elderly, and people living with HIV/AIDS the physically challenged)

Juanita During, Head of Governance at WaterAid in Nigeria, challenged the media to maximise their role as change agents by increasing awareness on sanitation issues in Nigeria and continue to promote the WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) sector, which is of paramount importance if we must achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

She explained, "we do not have to imagine these things; challenges of sanitation and hygiene in Nigeria are realities that we live by everyday."

Following the event some of the journalists developed stories and programs on sanitation issues, in their print and broadcasting media (eg the Federal government owned Capital 92.9 FM and a private TV network, ITV). 

Our Policy and Research Coordinator Apollos Nwafor was a guest on the Voice of Nigeria (VON), a government owned radio service. He was interviewed on the implications of water, sanitation and hygiene and Nigeria's ability to meet the Millennium Development Goals.

The event was not without fun, participants demonstrated our call to action by squatting in public for one minute.

World Toilet Day in Ekiti State

Environmental health club awards

Our state programmes were also involved in World Toilet Day through the Environmental health club awards, where the winner from three focal local government areas received gifts. A quiz competition was organised in the state to test pupils' knowledge and understanding of WASH issues encouraging them to be active in peer influencing and community mobilisation. The three winners that emerged from the different local government areas were presented with awards.

Live television call-in

A live televised call-in television, running from 8am-9:30am, featured WaterAid's State Programme Manager, Emmanuel Bamidele Fagbite, a behaviourist from the Ekiti State University, Dr CT Oluwadare and the Honourable Commissioner for Environment in Ekiti State, Otunba Segun Olanrewaju as guests. Callers highlighted the need for policy and government legislation on the issues of toilets in homes and public places.

Stakeholders meeting

At a stakeholders' meeting three focal LGA (local government authority) WASH Coordinators, Water Supply Officers, Sanitation Officers, Hygiene Officers and PMEO were in attendance. The MC Chairmen from each of the three LGAs and some community WASHCOM Chairmen were also at the meeting. 

While the intervention of WaterAid was appreciated, there was a strong call to the government and other stakeholders to unite and be responsive to the issues of sanitation in Ekiti State. Emphasis was laid on the fact that while meaningful intervention is going on in the rural communities, the urban areas are becoming filthier everyday with many houses and even government offices lacking toilets.

500 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members gathered at the orientation camp batch C on the 12 of November 2009 to learn about CLTS (Community Led Total Sanitation) in Plateau State. The lecture centered on the importance of total sanitation and how it affects their lives as corps members.

The youth corps members hold great potential in spreading the dangers of open defecation and hygiene messages because there is at least one youth corps member in almost every community in Nigeria. On World Toilet Day the NYSC members raised awareness the need and importance of improved sanitation.