Makinde’s Wife Harps On Clean Water, Safe Toilet Facilities

The wife of the Oyo State Governor, Mrs Tamunominini Makinde, has reiterated that lack of access to proper sanitation jeopardises health, undermines dignity and perpetuates cycle of poverty.
The Oyo State First Lady stated this during the 2023 World Toilet Day commemoration organised by Oyo State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources last Monday in Ibadan.
According to her, provision of toilet facilities with proper usage by all and sundry will help the State and the nation to eradicate open defecation.
She said this would be in line with SDG Target 6.2, Presidential Executive Order 009 and Oyo State Target to make the State Open-Defecation Free by 2028.
“It is disheartening to acknowledge that women and girls often bear the disproportionate burden of inadequate sanitation facilities.
“This inequity not only impacts their health but also limits their educational opportunities and perpetuates gender disparities.
“As we deliberate on these issues, let us not forget that World Toilet Day is a call to action.
“It beckons us to collaborate with communities, non-governmental organisations and governmental bodies to implement sustainable solutions.
“We must strive for more than just installing facilities; we must empower communities to maintain and integrate these systems into their daily lives”, she said.
Speaking also, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola, said that the Ministry would continue to deploy a community centric approach to address sanitation challenges in the state.
He said this would make each community to take ownership of proper sanitation of their respective communities.
“We will encourage community sanitation ownership because community-led initiative sanitation over the time when supported by stakeholders, have potential to create lasting impact on the people,l”, he said.
The Tide’s source reports that the event featured road walk sensitisation and awareness campaign at Bodija International Market, Ibadan.
The World Toilet Day slated for November 19 is an annual United Nations observance promoted through a worldwide public campaign that encourages action to tackle the global sanitation crisis.