WaterAid Targets 27m Nigerians For Clean Water

WaterAid Nigeria has unveiled an ambitious 5-year Strategy Plan aimed at providing access to clean water, sanitation facilities, and promoting crucial hygiene practices to a staggering 27 million individuals across the country.

The momentous announcement took place at the WaterAid Nigeria Country Programme 5-year Strategy 2023-2028 event, held in Abuja yesterday.

Speaking at the launch, WaterAid country director, Ms. Evelyn Mere, emphasised the significance of the newly unveiled strategy, stating that, “The blueprint we are about to unveil outlines our vision for maximizing emerging opportunities through systemic change and accelerating impact over the next five years. This comprehensive strategy was co-created through an inclusive and participatory process, involving our esteemed partners and other stakeholders at the federal level.”

Mere further outlined the collaborative nature of the strategy development process, highlighting the vital role played by stakeholders in shaping the global aims of the programme.

“Through a consultative meeting, an Aims Selection Workshop, and a Programme Design Workshop, our valued partners worked alongside us to identify two pivotal global aims: achieving universal, sustainable, and safe services in targeted geographic areas to influence broader change, and bolstering WASH resilience against the impacts of climate change,” she explained.

She acknowledged their integral contribution to the strategy’s formulation and passionately urged their continued involvement during the implementation phase.

“We have gathered here today to celebrate the launch of a strategy that you were instrumental in creating. By doing so, we also implore you to join us as we embark on the journey of transforming this vision into a reality.

“Your unwavering support is crucial as we strive to directly impact 10 million people through our interventions, providing them with basic WASH services and promoting behavior change. Together, we aim to improve basic WASH access for an additional 17 million individuals,” she articulated.

In concluding her address, Mere offered a poignant glimpse into the transformative power of WaterAid’s mission, highlighting the profound impact it can have on women, girls, and the broader community.

“WaterAid’s upcoming journey seeks to empower every woman and girl, enabling them to enhance their productivity, realize their rights to quality education, and live free from the specter of gender-based violence. Furthermore, our efforts aim to consign high rates of maternal and infant mortality, stemming from inadequate WASH provisions, to the annals of history,” she declared.

Underpinning this strategic vision is WaterAid’s recent global initiative, a remarkable 10-year strategy that strives to extend its reach to more than 400 million people worldwide, including Nigeria. This far-reaching plan seeks to ensure sustainable, safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services, while also advocating for increased annual funding of $15 billion for water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in low and middle-income countries.

She noted that as WaterAid Nigeria embarks on this momentous endeavour, hopes are high that their visionary strategy will usher in a new era of progress, bringing improved health, well-being, and dignity to millions of Nigerians.