Workshop Equips Trainers On National Water-quality Guidance

Nestlé Nigeria Plc partnered with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and the Organised Private Sector in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (OPS-WASH) for a national training workshop aimed at strengthening water-quality management across Nigerian communities. �

The partnership centred on the Training of Trainers workshop on the Water Quality Handbook, which is designed to equip personnel with knowledge that can be transferred to state institutions, local governments and communities.

The initiative seeks to shift attention from water access and availability to the safety and quality of water consumed by Nigerians. Workshop sessions covered water-quality testing, source protection, household water treatment and storage, climate-related risks, and the responsibilities of government agencies, private-sector organisations and communities.

The Water Quality Handbook, launched in April 2026 by the ministry, is presented as a technical guide for stakeholders across the water supply chain. The handbook contains standardized guidance on source protection, household water handling, water testing and treatment, reporting channels, and climate-related water quality challenges.

Speaking on behalf of the minister, the ministry’s director, Habu Jamilu, urged a unified, standardised approach to water quality management instead of fragmented interventions. He described the ToT workshop as an important step to turn the handbook’s technical provisions into practical skills that trainers can replicate nationwide.

“The handbook is intended to serve as a definitive technical guide for stakeholders across the water quality value chain,” Jamilu said, adding that success will depend on effective knowledge transfer to communities.

Workshop sessions covered a range of technical topics, including: Understanding water quality basics, examining physical, chemical and biological indicators used to determine suitability for consumption; Water sources and household water management, focusing on source protection and safe storage and handling at the household level; Water quality testing methods, including interpreting results to inform treatment and management decisions;  Roles and responsibilities in water quality management, outlining tasks for government agencies, private actors, communities and local authorities; Climate change and water quality, exploring how shifting rainfall patterns, floods, droughts and temperature changes affect source vulnerability. ; Household water treatment methods, demonstrating practical options and emphasising correct procedures and post-treatment storage to avoid recontamination.

Speakers stressed that visual clarity of water is not a reliable indicator of safety and that regular testing and proper handling are essential to protect public health. Presenters also highlighted the need for coordination between water management and climate adaptation efforts.

Representatives from OPS-WASH said the ToT is designed to produce technical personnel who will carry the handbook’s guidance to state and local levels and support community-level education on the health and economic implications of poor water quality.

Participants were urged to engage with state-level institutions and governors to ensure local ownership when the campaign reaches states. The workshop concluded with calls for sustained collaboration among federal and state agencies, private-sector stakeholders and community organisations to translate technical guidance into lasting improvements in water safety.

The ministry and partners say the national advocacy campaign aims to ensure that Nigerians not only have access to water but also systems and practices that safeguard the quality of water consumed.