NTGS ORGANISES A 2-DAY CAPACITY BUILDING FOR RUWASSA STAFF

The National Tasks Group on Sanitation (NTGS), Abuja, has organised a 2-day capacity building for the staff of the state-owned Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency in Ilorin.

Declaring open the workshop, the State Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Usman Yunusa Lade, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Christiana Asonibare described the workshop as a laudable effort that will help to reposition the water sector in the state.

The Commissioner assured that the collaboration between the National Tasks Group on Sanitation from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Abuja, and the Kwara State Government will tremendously improve the water sector.

"When there is water without proper management, there will be crisis, and when there is no access to water, there will still be crisis", Lade added.

According to him, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has taken the health of the people of the state seriously, and by extension, is also ensuring that the water sector is revitalised.

The Co-ordinator of the training, Mr. Benson Attah, said the purpose of the training is to allow the state government to key into the vision of increasing access to safe and drinkable water, adequate sanitation and hygiene for all Nigerians, in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) standard.

He listed the objectives of NTGS to include bringing grassroot communities closer, equip participants with knowledge and skills, basic knowledge of advocacy resources for mobilisation for wash, to achieve SDGs, ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030, to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinkable water for all; end open defecation; paying special attention to the needs of woman folks, and the vulnerables, among others.

Attah further explained that certain measures must be put in place before drilling and sinking borehole in order to avoid disaster and pollution in the future.

The Co-ordinator, who educated the trainees on how refuse can be used to generate gas and agricultural bye-product, enjoined them to contribute their quota to water sanitation, while urging the state government to prioritize water sanitation and hygiene in every sector.

Also speaking at the training, Mrs. Stella Atteng, a member of the National Tasks Group on Sanitation, said everyone has a role to play in water hygiene and sanitation.

She said that everyone need to take care of their environment, stop open defecation, wash their hands in running water regularly and clean our utensils to avoid disease that make us to visit the hospital from time to time.

Earlier, the General Manager, Kwara State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Mr. Olorunfemi Adewumi commended the NTGS team for the support and initiative to enhance the water sector development in the state.

Adewumi assured the team that his agency will make use of this training to bring positive change in water hygiene and sanitation in the state.

Adewoye Abosede Oluwatosin

Assistant Press Secretary

MWR