The Hon. Minister of Water Resources Engr Suleiman H. Adamu FNSE, FAEng has said that the introduction of schoolWASH Programme For Federal Educational institutions in the country is a deliberate act to develop a joint initiative between the FMWR and FME targeted at improving access to WASH services in our educational institutions.
He said this in Abuja on 14th March 2023 during the occasion of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Ministry of Education on SchoolWash Programme.
Speaking at the event, the Minister said that ” the water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) are crosscutting issues that impact on different sectors including education, health as well as economy, among others under the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, targets 6.1 and 6 2 which are the WASH targets that seek to achieve universal and equitable access to safely managed drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene services for all”.
“Access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene is fundamental to the health and well-being of students and staff members and is a prerequisite for quality education, the Minister noted. Speaking further, Engr Adamu said, we believe that this partnership will go a long way.
The Water Minister revealed that the Ministry is also working with the Federal Ministry of Health and Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development to roll out similar WASH programmes targeted at Health Care facilities and the Youths respectively.
“We are committed to building more partnerships and collaborations within and across Sectors to ensure that the deliberate and sustained attention required to meet the SDG targets by 2030 are in place. The contribution and commitment of everyone; viz Government at all levels, civil society, private sector, development partners, traditional and religious institutions, and the entire populace is critical in this regard.
Engr Adamu further informed that this Memorandum of Understanding details the obligation of the Parties, the framework for programme coordination and delivery as well as for financing, monitoring and evaluation. “My Ministry has already made the needed budgetary provision for the take-off of the SchoolWASH programme in its 2023 budget appropriation and we are confident that we will make appreciable progress in achieving universal WASH coverage in our schools by the year 2030.
Similarly, the Honorable Minister of Education Alhaji Adamu Adamu expressed his delight to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources on this critical issue of improving WASH 0facilities and services in Federal Government-owned educational institutions.
Alhaji Adamu Adamu reiterated that the Water Minister’s achievement in the WASH and the campaign to end Open defecation in the country have been in the works.
On his part, the Education Minister , agreed that the partnership is a timely one which will enhance the overall health and well-being of students and staff members, reduce the spread of waterborne diseases, and promote good hygiene practices.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Education, had welcomed the delegation. The consequently urged that all hands must be on deck to ensure the success of the programme.
Kenechukwu Offie,fnipr,
Director, Press and Public FMWR.
