FG/Ogun to engage 2000 youths in campaign against open defecation

Towards ending open defecation, curbing poor sanitation and promoting healthy living, the Federal Government in collaboration with Ogun State, has flagged off a programme to engage 2,000 youths in door-to-door public sensitisation.

The wife of the State Governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun dropped this hint on Tuesday while flagging off the programme, tagged; ‘National Youth Volunteer Programme on Sanitation Towards Ending Open Defecation and Promote Hand washing Practices to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 Virus’ in Abeokuta.

Mrs Bamidele Abiodun said the volunteers would be spread across the 20 Local Government Areas of the State to create awareness on proper sanitation to tackle unhealthy practices like open defecation among others.

Mrs. Abiodun who is also the Lead Sanitation Ambassador, noted that the present administration would ensure compliance of citizens with the ‘one-house one-toilet’ practice, saying it would help stop the spread of diseases in the environment.

She said the sensitisation would enlighten communities on the need to embrace better hygiene, commending the volunteers for rising up to the challenge, as their efforts would eventually put the State on the list of open defecation-free States.

"Let us give the volunteers our support as they are set to work, this was how country like India which formerly led the world in open defecation, largely curbed the practice", Mrs. Abiodun said. 

Speaking, the Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleimon Adamu, said the programme was an initiative of the Federal Government to engage 100 youth volunteers in each 774 Local Government Areas across the country, for community awareness, towards ending of open defecation by the year 2025.

Adamu, represented by the National Coordinator, Clean Nigeria, Use Toilet Campaign, Mrs. Chizoma Opara, said the joint effort of government and stakeholders at all levels in raising awareness on the dangers of open defecation and importance of handwashing, would lead to the needed behavioural change, thereby producing a healthy society and an economically buoyant nation. 

Earlier in his address, Commissioner for Rural Development, Engr. Taiwo Oludotun urged the volunteers to rise up to the task and ensure smooth running of the programme, while charging the Sanitation Desk Officers at the grass root in various council areas to also put in their best to achieve the desired result.

"I urge our grassroot Sanitation Desk Officers in the various Local Government Areas to put in their best at this critical time, especially, on the engagement and coordination of the volunteered youths. It is our priority that the ‘door-step to door-step’ campaign, on importance of one toilet to a household is achieved”, Oludotun said.

In her welcome address, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Rural Development, Mrs. Adepeju Shote, acknowledged the support of UNICEF and National Orientation Agency (NOA), saying their roles were critical in the exercise.