Following the selection of Nigeria by the World Toilet Organization (WTO) as the host Country of the 2022 World Toilet Summit (WTS), the Honourable Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu FNSE, FAeng has inaugurated the Planning Committee for the World Toilet Summit which holds in November 2022.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony which held in Abuja on Thursday 21st April 2022, the Honourable Minister recalled that the selection of Nigeria to host the World Toilet Summit was facilitated by the Organized Private Sector in WASH (OPS-WASH) and Nigeria’s stride towards eliminating open defecation practices in the country, through the implementation of a National Campaign to end open defecation in Nigeria by 2025, tagged ‘Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet’ Campaign.
Engr. Adamu reiterated that the Federal Government has demonstrated commitment to the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Sector in Nigeria through various initiatives like the Presidential declaration of the ‘State of Emergency’ in the WASH Sector, the National Action Plan to revitalize the Sector, Partnership for Expanded WASH (PEWASH), the ‘Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet’ Campaign, and the Sustainable Urban and Rural WASH project (SURWASH), among others.
The Honourable Minister acknowledged that Nigeria needs all the support it can get in ensuring that the different sector initiatives gain traction, and also recognised the significant role of the private sector in boosting the sanitation value chain and creating a circular economy across the value chain which can boost the country’s economic indices and have positive impacts across other sectors.
He expressed optimism that the 2022 World Toilet Summit will bring together Government Actors, Private Sector players, Development Partners, NGOs and other Sector Stakeholders to highlight the issue of open defecation and bring it to greater public focus.
Speaking further, Engr. Adamu stated that the Committee, with members drawn from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Development Partners, the Private Sector, Non Governmental Organizations and other stakeholders will be Chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, and co-Chaired by the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Environment.
The Honourable Minister charged the planning Committee members to judiciously deliver on their mandate in tandem with the stipulated Terms of Reference with utmost responsibility of planning and rolling out initiatives to ensure the successful hosting of the World Toilet Summit in Nigeria through hard work and commitment.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary Mrs Didi Walson-Jack mni in her welcome address, explained that the world Toilet Organization (WTO) is a global non-profit Organization established in 2001 with a focus on “breaking the silence” on the global sanitation crises, with membership across 53 countries.
She explained that WTO is geared towards mobilizing key Private Sector Players, NGOs, and high-level decision makers to bring the issue of Open Defecation to greater Public glare.
In her response as the Chairman of the planning Committee, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack gave an assurance that the Committee will put in their best to make Nigeria proud and escalate the campaign to use the toilet.
She added that with the commitment to deliver on their Terms of Reference, the Committee will submit a report in good time to give details of the plan for the 2022 World Toilet Summit.
Mrs Funmi Imuetinyan
DD (Press & Public Relations)
