World Toilet Day: Stakeholders rallies to fast-track Nigeria’s ODF drive
By Ahmed Ahmed
As the world commemorates World Toilet Day 2025, Mangrove & Partners, a prominent institutional strengthening consultancy, has convened a national webinar aimed at accelerating Nigeria’s push toward ending open defecation.
Managing Partner/CEO, Timeyin Uwejamomere, said the virtual forum was organised to bring WASH actors together to assess practical strategies for scaling sanitation efforts at both national and state levels.
He emphasized the urgency of speeding up Nigeria’s progress toward achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) status.
The session highlighted the accomplishments of the country’s two ODF-certified states Jigawa and Katsina.
Heads of their rural water agencies, Engr. Labaran Adamu (Jigawa RUWASSA) and Engr. Aminu Safana (Katsina RUWASSA), explained that strong political will, dedicated WASH budget lines, and consistent community engagement were central to their success.
They praised former Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Sulaiman Adamu, for championing advocacy that secured high-level government support, while also acknowledging UNICEF Nigeria’s crucial technical assistance.
Clean Nigeria Campaign National Coordinator, Mrs. Chizoma Opara, urged other governors to build on the momentum, pledging intensified engagements to replicate the Jigawa and Katsina models.
In his remarks, former Minister Adamu commended the initiative, describing the webinar as an important platform for sharing lessons and stimulating political action.
He applauded Mangrove & Partners for driving renewed commitment toward national sanitation goals.This year’s World Toilet Day is themed “We’ll Always Need the Toilet: ODF is Possible in Nigeria.”
