FG, Ogun To Engage 2,000 Youths In Fight Against Open Defecation

By Ayobami Ife,  Abeokuta

The Federal Government in partnership with Ogun State has flagged off a programme to engage 2,000 youths in door-to-door public sensitisation to tackle open defecation and poor sanitation in the State. 

.

The wife of the State Governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, hinted this while flagging off the programme, tagged; ‘National Youth Volunteer Programme on Sanitation Towards Ending Open Defecation and Promote Hand washing Practices to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 Virus’ in Abeokuta.

Mrs Abiodun said the volunteers would be spread across the 20 Local Government Areas of the State to create awareness on proper sanitation to tackle unhealthy practices.

The First Lady who is also the Lead Sanitation Ambassador, noted that the present administration would ensure compliance of its citizens with the ‘one-house one-toilet’ practice, saying it would help stop the spread of diseases in the environment.

According to her, the sensitisation would enlighten communities on the need to embrace better hygiene.

She commended the volunteers for rising up to the challenge, as their efforts would eventually put the State on the list of open defecation-free States.

"Let us give the volunteers our support as they are set to work, this was how country like India which formerly led the world in open defecation, largely curbed the practice", Mrs. Abiodun said. 

Speaking, the Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleimon Adamu, said the programme was an initiative of the Federal Government to engage 100 youth volunteers in each 774 Local Government Areas across the country, for community awareness, towards ending of open defecation by the year 2025.

Adamu, represented by the National Coordinator, Clean Nigeria, Use Toilet Campaign, Mrs. Chizoma Opara, said the joint effort of government and stakeholders at all levels in raising awareness on the dangers of open defecation and importance of handwashing, would lead to the needed behavioural change, thereby producing a healthy society and an economically buoyant nation.