Three public schools in Ikorodu North Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos now have access to safe water, gender-friendly toilets, and sanitation facilities, benefitting over 4,500 students and staff.
The beneficiaries include African Bethel Primary School, Erikorodo; Idera Community Primary School; and Zummuratul Islamiyyah Primary School, Odogunyan.
The project was facilitated by WaterAid Nigeria with funding from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.—Inauguration and Handover Ceremony.
At the inauguration and handover ceremony of the solar-powered water facilities and gender-friendly toilets, the Chairman of Ikorodu North LCDA, Mr. Ibrahim Apanisile, appreciated WaterAid Nigeria for its WASH interventions at the grassroots and promised to ensure proper maintenance.
“You are the leaders of tomorrow. We were also told while growing up, and today we are leaders. God will help us to do what we have to do and make the place better,” he said.
“We are here to complement what WaterAid Nigeria is doing. I’m ready to work with the organisation and I’ve learned a lot from them.“WaterAid has empowered our women. We have women trained to work on our water facilities. They will ensure water flows in their environment, and they will be supported for that.“Maintenance of these facilities will fall under a department. We have been to three different schools today to commission these facilities, and more are ongoing. Ikorodu North is the biggest LCDA in Lagos State, and WaterAid has invested here. I say thank you.”
The Chairman of the CDC in Ikorodu, Prince Adeniran Ogunbanwo, also commended WaterAid Nigeria for the interventions.
“We are here to witness a milestone that speaks to the heart of the community. Access to clean water and sanitation is very important. We all know water is life and it enhances learning for our children, the leaders of tomorrow.“This facility will meet the needs of the people and reduce the chances of waterborne diseases. I express my profound gratitude to WaterAid Nigeria and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.”
The Coordinator of the Female Local Area Mechanics, Mrs. Toyin Odubena, highlighted the role of women in sustaining the facilities.
“I am from Ikorodu North LGA. We have trained female local area mechanics to sustain the facility. We have female mechanics in the CDAs. I’m the coordinator, and the training has been going on in plumbing and maintenance.“The training is not just for learning. When you train a woman, you train a community. It also gives us another source of income. They targeted women because what a man can do, a woman can do also, and even better.“We started this training two years ago. We did the practicals, how to connect the solar panel to the borehole and maintain them. We are about 40 across the LCDA, and we are grateful for the opportunity to acquire the skills,” she explained.
The Head Teacher of Zummuratul Islamiyyah School, Mr. Adebisi, acknowledged the consistent presence of WaterAid officers throughout the project.
“I must appreciate Dr. Adebayo Alao of WaterAid Nigeria who visited our school 25 times on this project. Mr. Bamikole visited 27 times, Mr. Godfrey visited three times and Madam Ella came twice, I know this because I keep records of their efforts. We thank all of them. God bless you.”
Earlier, the Country Director of WaterAid Nigeria, Ms. Evelyn Mere, represented by the Head of Lagos Office, Dr. Adebayo Alao, said the new facilities would enhance the health, dignity, and well-being of pupils and staff of benefitting schools.
He noted that the strengthening water and sanitation project in Lagos aimed at providing safe water and decent toilets for 4,500 students and staff of three public schools in Ikorodu, with a call on beneficiaries to make good use of the facilities.
“The hygiene campaign alone reached nearly 14,000 people, surpassing our original target. More importantly, we built sustainability into the project by training women as local mechanics, setting up community WASH committees, and equipping schools with health clubs.“We deeply appreciate the support of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Lagos State Government, and Ikorodu North LCDA. As we hand over these facilities, we urge government and school authorities to ensure their maintenance so future generations can benefit. WaterAid remains committed to ensuring sustainable WASH access in Lagos and beyond.”
In the same vein, Mr. Ukeme Essien of WaterAid West Africa explained the activities of WaterAid in the West African sub-region.
“WaterAid is in six countries in West Africa: Nigeria, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Liberia. We are working to ensure good water, sanitation, and hygiene for everyone, everywhere.“The work that our Country Director and our office in Nigeria are doing is what brought us here today. That is the same thing we are doing across the West African sub-region, and we can’t do it without strong partnerships with government and civil society organisations.“I want to sincerely appreciate our CSOs and our Country Director. I also appreciate the Chairman of Ikorodu North Local Government Area for the work he has done.”
The intervention included the construction of three solar-powered boreholes, four blocks of gender-friendly toilets, and the upgrading of 18 toilet cubicles.
Reporting by Yemisi Dada