National Coordinator, Organized Private Sector, Water and Sanitation Hygiene (OPS-WASH), Nicholas Igwe has revealed why the World Toilet Organization, named Nigeria World host of the World Toilet Day, for 2022.
He said the international consensus on Nigeria was that it has demonstrated political will on ensuring an open defecation free country, the fore the no better country could host the 2022 edition of World programme in sanitation.
Igwe said this to Nigerian Ministers of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, Health, Osagie Ehanire and Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen amongst others in Abuja.
His words: “As you are probably aware, Nigeria will be Hosting the next World Toilet Summit, it is the first time that Nigeria will host it and the second time in Africa.
“The first time was in 2013, in South Africa, and this year, 18 and 19 of November, it will be in Nigeria. So the whole world will be coming to Nigeria.
“Founder of WTO clearly stated that they chose Nigeria because of their strong political will. The multi stakeholders arrangement that we are having today, speaks to this. They have been monitoring Nigeria, and they say that there is no other country that will be able to host apart from Nigeria.
Five European countries have registered, three from the USA, one from Columbia to come as a sponsor. Am sure Mr. Jack Sum would communicate that to the ministry
He said sanitation was a key component of development and it has the capacity to catapult Nigeria from a developing world to a developed nation when it got the issue of water right in all its ramifications.
Igwe told the Ministers that, “The theme of this year’s Water and World Toilet Day is on Economy and Sanitation.”
He stressed that “Singapore is there from third world country to first world country because of getting water sanitation and hygiene right, and that is what is going to be the theme.
According to Igwe “Without proper sanitation, water and hygiene. We cannot talk about a robust economy,” he maintained.
It would be recalled that the Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu was honoured with the award for what it described as “Outstanding Contributions” to WaterAid by His Royal Highness Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales.