Abuja – The Country Director, WaterAid Nigeria, Dr Michael Ojo, has called on government at all levels to eliminate inequalities towards accessing water and sanitation in the country.
Ojo made this call at a National Youth Forum on Water and Sanitation Jobs in Nigeria in Abuja on Monday.
According to him, eliminating inequalities would help Nigerians out of poverty and assist them to achieve their full potential to live healthy and productive lives.
“Walking, queuing and carrying jerry cans is often a job that is not paid and not recognised, it wastes time and hinder productivity for many women and girls.
“In sub-Saharan Africa, women spend combined total of at least 16 million hours each day collecting drinking water, we can do more when these inequality gaps are closed,“ he said
Ojo said Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) was an essential component of an integrated approach towards tackling poverty, hunger, health and inequality, saying prioritising this would make growth sustainable.
The country director said the youth hold unprecedented potential for economic and social progress, saying they also constitute more than 50 per cent of the country’s population.
“With the 2030 Global Agenda, the needs in the water sector are greater than ever before, we need better talent to help shape our future.
“The young people can play a central role in bringing dynamic new ideas, fresh thinking and energy into place.
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“Whether we are talking about workers in the WASH sector, unemployed youths or the challenged women and girls fetching water every day, it’s all about eliminating inequalities and helping people out of poverty, “ he said.
Ojo stressed the need for political and financial commitment from all tiers of government, adding that collective efforts were also needed to scale up access to water and sanitation.
He said the organisation recognises access to WASH as a basic human right which every individual was entitled to, saying this is the first step towards eliminating poverty.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the event was organised to commemorate the 2016 World Water Day, with the theme, ‘Water and Jobs’. (NAN)