WaterAid, PepsiCo close WASH Improvement Project for three Lagos LCDAs

 

WaterAid, PepsiCo close WASH Improvement Project for three Lagos LCDAs

 

By Fabian Ekeruche

 

 The Lagos State Government, community leaders, and education officials have commended the successful completion of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Improvement Project implemented by WaterAid Nigeria with funding support from the PepsiCo Foundation.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that stakeholders at the close out meeting commended the project for impacting on improved health, school attendance, and stronger community ownership of water facilities.

 

The project, which covered Ikorodu North LCDA, Ojodu LCDA, and Ikotun- Igando LCDA, provided access to safe water and sanitation services, promoted hygiene behaviour change, trained women mechanics, and strengthened systems for sustainable WASH governance.

 

Speaking at the closeout ceremony, Mr. Godfrey Iloha, WASH Manager, WaterAid Nigeria, said the project met all four of its objectives.

 

“We provided access to safe and sustainable WASH facilities, empowered over 35 female Local Area Mechanics (LAM), reached over 43,000 people directly with improved sanitation, and more than 100,000 through hygiene behaviour change interventions,” he said.

 

Iloha added that the project supported the Lagos State Government in developing a Monitoring and Evaluation framework and a Management Information System (MIS) for long-term planning in the WASH sector.

 

He urged beneficiary communities to take ownership of the facilities and prevent vandalism, adding that “government remains the duty bearer responsible for sustaining these interventions.”

 

Also speaking, Mr Adeniran Ogunbawo, CDC Chairman of Ikorodu North LCDA, commended WaterAid and PepsiCo for the intervention in various Schools and other facilities in the council area.

 

“Before this project, the schools were in poor condition. The intervention transformed them, and the council has repainted and adopted the facilities.

 

“We have taken ownership — our water department and the community women will maintain them,” he said.

 

Dr. Adebayo Alao, Lagos Programmes Lead, WaterAid, said the organisation ensures that all boreholes and facilities meet standard engineering specifications.

 

“We don’t rehabilitate poor-quality facilities; we build new ones to ensure longevity.

 

 However, sustainability now lies in the hands of communities, local councils, and schools,” he noted.

 

Alao further encouraged every school to designate “hygiene champions” to promote good sanitation and hygiene habits among students, stressing that handwashing with soap and water could reduce diseases by up to 75 per cent.

 

 Dr Kudirat Adeyemi, Environment Officer, Education District VI, said the intervention improved school hygiene, attendance, and punctuality.

 

“Students now have access to clean, functional toilets, which enhances concentration and teaching.

 

” We hope for renewal and expansion of the project to more schools in our district,” she said.

 

In his remarks Mr Henry Adenigba  Executive Director, Humanity Family Foundation for Peace and Development (HUFFPED), said the project had achieved its objectives, adding that communities must now ensure sustainability.

 

“These facilities are a blessing. Communities should manage them properly to encourage further investment,” he said.

 

Also commenting, Mr Segun Fayemi,  CDC Chairman, Ojodu LCDA, described the project as “highly educative and beneficial,” adding that it had created better synergy between communities, schools, and education authorities on hygiene and sanitary standards.

 

NAN reports that the project forms part of WaterAid’s commitment to improving access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene for all, with support from the PepsiCo Foundation.