By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo
A cluster of six Civil Society Organizations (CSO) under the auspices of IbomWASH+ has called for closer collaboration between it and the private sector to develope and implement Water, Hygiene and Sanitation initiatives in Akwa Ibom.
Speaking during a two-days engagement with the private sector in Uyo yesterday, Project Director, IbomWASH+, Professor Gabriel Umoh disclosed that the engagement became necessary to deepen awareness of Private sectors on WASH and IBOMWASH activities and elicit private sectors support for WASH reforms in the state.
Umoh who is also the CEO of African Human Development Centre also urged the private sector to join voices with the cluster to call on the government to approve Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) policy, Monitoring & Evaluation framework and Open Defecation-Free Road map it prepared for the state.
The Project Director explained that they had in the past years worked together to develop WASH policy for the state, produced M&E framework and also developed road map to help the state to be open defecation-free by 2025 being the target of the presidential order 009.
“Recall that the availability of policy and the professional body provides the enabling environment needed for businesses in the Akwa Ibom WASH sector to benefit from global funding in the WaSH sector.
“Private Sector Investment in water, sanitation and hygiene is tantamount to achieving Safe water for all and an Open defecation Free Akwa Ibom by 2025 and SDGG targets by 2030.
“Your voice and support is needed for the approval of the Akwa Ibom State WasH Policy, WaSH Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, Open Defecation Free Roadmap and budget increase for WaSH
“To boost businesses and activities in the WaSH value chain so we can achieve potable water, safe toilets and hygiene for all in Akwa Ibom State and you know what that will mean to our markets, schools, public places and most of all to our health, economy and happiness.
“For the past two years, we in the Civil Society Organization have been pushing for the approval of the policy and we decided that we should not work alone but should bring the private sector along so that together we can push the frontiers of the WASH sector of the state.” Umoh said.
He explained the benefits of Corporate Social Responsibilities to the private sector, solicited their support for WASH reforms in the state, stressing that with collective effort, jobs would be created, crime rate reduced and the state would achieve it’s goal before 2025.
He expressed optimism that with the assurance of the WASH commissioner, that the documents would be given approval by the governor so that the state would be well placed in WASH issues.
