By Kate Obande
ZARAGOZA (SPAIN) – The Girls and Women in Nigeria (G-WIN) project, has empowered 658 rural [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]women and girls in Nigeria on water management to boost the nation’s water supply and sanitation.
Nigeria’s Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, made the disclosure on Saturday in a paper [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]she presented at the ongoing UN International Water Conference taken place in Zarogoza, Spain.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the G-WIN project was designed by the Ministry of [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”8″][pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]Water Resources to create women leaders in water management through training.
It was also meant to alleviate the hardship faced by rural women face in the search for water.
The project is being piloted in two local government areas in four states: Abia, Bauchi, Osun, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In her paper entitled, “Ways to Realise Human Right to Water and Sanitation,’’ Ochekpe explained that the empowerment would help to improve the living conditions of rural women and girls in Nigeria.
The minister, who was represented by Mr Benson Ajisegiri, Head, Water Sector Reform in the ministry, highlighted the impact of the project in the pilot states.
She said that 156 rural women and girls were trained on water kiosk operation and maintenance.
“Traditionally, women and girls are the primary collectors, users and managers of domestic water supply.
“They are the most affected with hardship due to lack of access to safe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and unimproved hygiene, ” she said.
She said that 287 women and girls were trained on Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS), slab construction and public sanitation facility.
She added that 168 women and girls were empowered to acquire entrepreneurship skill while 55 girls and women in urban areas were trained on procurement processes.
Ochekpe said the project had assisted in the construction of water infrastructure like water kiosks and public sanitation facilities in 12 states to eradicate open defecation and ensure healthier environment.
She added the project had also helped to promoted gender equality in Nigeria and provided platforms for income generation for rural women and girls. (NAN)