The Federal Government pledged on Sunday to start a toilet revolution that would encourage African countries to build and use toilets for a healthier and more hygienic society.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Ms. Didi Walson-Jack, told the Nigerian News Agency in the preparations for the upcoming World Toilet Summit, which is scheduled to be held in Abuja.remember that Nigeria will be the second country in Africa to host the summit on November 18-19.
The theme of the summit is “Towards Sanitation Innovations for Economic Development.”
Walson-Jack said the summit was expected to allow participants, exhibitors and other stakeholders in the water and sanitation sector to take a broader view within the sanitation value chain.
According to her, the summit is organized by Nigeria, the Organized Private Sector in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (PAHO-WASH) and the World Toilet Organization.
She said the summit would be a platform for stakeholders, development partners and high-level decision-makers to better strategize and address sanitation challenges in the country.
Walson-Jack said: “Hosting rights were awarded to Nigeria earlier this year, and Nigeria is the second country in Africa to receive hosting rights after South Africa in 2012.
“It is geared towards highlighting the opportunities in the circular sanitation economy and the enabling environment needed to maximize it.
“The summit is expected to showcase investment opportunities in the sanitation sector that the sector could take advantage of.
“This would drive demand and increase access to sustainable sanitation services in the country, Clean Nigeria: Use the toilet campaign to end open defecation in Nigeria by 2025.”
The permanent secretary said the overall gain from the summit for the African continent as a whole was that it was expected to bring about an African toilet revolution.
He said that such a meeting of personalities would enhance collaboration to drive accelerated access to sustainable sanitation services.
Walson-Jack said that efforts were being made to welcome all the participants, assuring them a beautiful stay in the nations capital.
He said the global sanitation crisis had affected 3.6 billion people due to lack of funding and poorly managed sanitation, adding that the summit would accelerate the open defecation-free national roadmap by 2025.
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