Students of Maya Junior and Senior Community Grammar Schools in Ikorodu North LCDA will soon enjoy safe and potable water with gender friendly toilets to prevent open defecation and improve their hygiene.
This is because an NGO WaterAid Nigeria has launched a one year Strengthening Water and Sanitation Delivery Project which is funded by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
At the official launch of the project in Ikeja GRA, representative of the Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Dr Christiana Dasaolu, said the intervention would reduce out of school children, impact and restore dignity of students as well as improve environmental sanitation.
Dr Dasaolu who described all WaterAid Nigeria WASH projects in Lagos schools as a beacon of hope to make teaching and learning environment conducive for teachers and students, appreciated the gesture.
On his part, representative of the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources Mr Akinwumi Babatunde commended the initiative for a more climate resilient WASH services in Lagos, noting that the state government would leverage on the model provided by WaterAid Nigeria and its development partners to in provision of standard WASH facilities in other rural areas of the state.
In an address of welcome, WaterAid Nigeria Lagos Program Team Lead Dr Adebayo Alao who was represented by Mr Emmanuel Iorkumbor, said the objective of the project was to impact change and ensure that more people have access to basic hygiene and sanitation to bridge the gap of inadequacies in core hard to reach communities in Lagos using Ikorodu North LCDA as a model.
He thanked the donor the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saint for the trust reposed in WaterAid in the last five years in executing WASH projects in line with international standards.
The Project Manager, Mr Godfrey Iloha, said the WASH intervention project is to amplify citizens voices and ensure inclusive participation in WASH governance by promoting accountability mechanisms.
According to Mr Iloha, the project would also enhance the capacity of government institutions to contribute to long term planning and change management.
The Vice Chairman of Ikorodu North Council Area, Mr Matthew Aliu-Adesanya and the CDC Chairman in the Council, Prince Adeniran Ogunbanwo, thanked WaterAid Nigeria for loading the LCDA with WASH projects to serve as a model for the state government to replicate in other Council areas.
“On behalf of the CDC, the LCDA leadership, and the entire people of Ikorodu North, I say a very big THANK YOU. Your legacy is now part of our community’s history.
These facilities will serve thousands of children, today, tomorrow, and for years to come”.
“We assure you that we will protect, maintain, and sustain these facilities so that your investment continues to shine as a model for others across Lagos State and Nigeria”
“To every teacher, every parent, every community leader, and every child whose life is touched by this intervention, let us rise to the responsibility of maintaining what has been entrusted to us.
Once again, from the depth of our hearts, we appreciate WaterAid Nigeria and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Thank you for choosing Ikorodu North”
The three hundred thousand dollars project is expected to birth one solar powered borehole, two inclusive sanitation facilities and two group handwashing and drinking water facilities in two schools as well as reach over four thousand, five hundred people in communities around the schools.
The implementing partners include the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Education District 2, LASWARCO, Lagos Safety Commission, CSOs including HUFFPED, CDC/CDA, Ikorodu North LCDA and the Media.
Reporting by Yemisi Dada