Private sector partners Association to drive WASH Initiatives in Nigeria
The Organized Private Sector in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (OPS-WASH), has partnered with the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) and other stakeholders to advance WASH initiatives in Nigeria.
This was the thrust at the unveiling of the Partnership for Community Engagement in collaboration with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (SSAP-CE) in Abuja.
The partnership aimed to leverage expertise, resources, and networks to address challenges and achieve the sustainable development goals.
OPS-WASH National Coordinator, Dr Nicholas Igwe, emphasised the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration and highlighted specific projects and summits, aimed at promoting WASH initiatives both nationally and internationally.
According to him, the partnership, based on three pillars: Data and Technology, Financial Innovations, and Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy, aims to create sustainable interventions across the six geo-political zones of the country.
Igwe stressed the necessity of collaboration among various stakeholders, including local partners, NGOs, the private sector, and the government, to effectively address challenges in the WASH sector.
He highlighted the importance of not working in isolation and called for collective action to achieve sustainable solutions.
Expressing his passion and patriotism for Nigeria, Igwe underscored the need for proactive involvement from all sectors of society, stating that solely relying on the government is not sufficient.
Igwe emphazied the importance of Nigerian-led initiatives, acknowledging the contributions of development partners such as UNICEF, USAID and others.
He also noted a significant milestone in Nigeria’s engineering community, where a woman assumed the presidency of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, indicating the potential for women to lead transformative efforts in the WASH sector.
Igwe called upon stakeholders across different states in Nigeria to join hands with the government and OPS-WASH to support the Renewed Hope Agenda and ensure the realization of WASH goals.
The national coordinator highlighted the need for collective action to drive positive change in communities across Nigeria and to support the Federal Government’s development agenda.
APWEN President, Dr Abimbola Osim, highlighted the urgent need to address Nigeria’s water crisis, including flooding, poor water management, and insufficient access to clean water and sanitation.
Osim, represented by Hajiya Hauwa Sadique, stressed the vital connection between water, peace, and sustainable development, advocating for collaborative efforts to prevent conflicts and promote stability.
Osim called for empowered communities and outlined APWEN’s initiatives for engagement, urging investment in water infrastructure and women’s involvement in decision-making.
She encouraged the private sector to invest in innovative solutions and called on the media to raise awareness, reaffirming APWEN’s commitment to leveraging water for peace and prosperity in Nigeria.
Mrs Abiodun Essiet, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement highlighted the establishment of her office by President Bola Tinubu as part of his Renewed Hope agenda.
Essiet, represented by Mayowa Akpati, said that these efforts were aimed at positively impacting lives, particularly at the grassroots level, through various initiatives and programmes.
Essiet emphasized collaboration with various private sector organisations, focusing on finance support, community intervention, and technology advancement as pillars of OPSWASH’s mission.
Acknowledging the critical role of water and sanitation in sustainable development, Essiet stressed the challenges in ensuring universal access to safe, clean, and affordable water, advocating for collective action.
“The partnership between SSAP CE North Central, OPS-WASH, and the Association of Professional Women Engineers signifies a commitment to addressing the water and sanitation challenge.
“It bridges public and private sectors, involving professional bodies to tackle complex societal issues”.
Essiet stressed the vital importance of water for life and development, expressing concern over the ongoing lack of access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities, worsened by issues like climate change and rapid urbanisation.
Essiet emphasized promoting sustainable water management, raising awareness on water-related issues, and empowering communities, particularly women and girls, in decision-making processes regarding water management.
The SSAP expressed gratitude to OPS-WASH, APWEN, and all partners involved, anticipating a fruitful partnership that would create lasting impacts and transform lives.
NAN / Foluke Ibitomi
