2019 World Water Day: Mrs Akeredolu charges stakeholders to complement government’s efforts in water, sanitation and hygiene

Wife of Ondo State Governor, Her Excellency, Chief Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has made a clarion call to stakeholders in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) to continue to support government’s efforts in addressing the water challenges in Ondo state.

The Ondo State First Lady made this call during an occasion organised by Association of Water Well Drillers, Rig Owners and Practitioners (AWDROP), Ondo state chapter, to mark the 2019 World Water Day in Akure, Ondo state.

The 22nd of March every year is set aside by UN-Water, a sub-agency of the United Nations that focuses on water and sanitation issues, to advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources; hence the event hosted by AWDROP.

Speaking on the year’s theme, “Leaving No One Behind”, Mrs Akeredolu encouraged stakeholders in WASH to consider marginalized groups like women, children, and disabled people, who are often overlooked and who sometimes face discrimination as they try to access and manage the safe water they need.

Mrs Akeredolu, who spoke through her media aide, Rowland Onyeukwu, stated that there has been a 23% increase in the provision of safe water in rural areas of the state, by the present administration and restated the Akeredolu-led government’s resolve to ensuring 100% potable water supply to all communities in Ondo state. She also thanked AWDROP for their noteworthy contributions towards WASH projects in the state and charged the people of the state to protect and preserve the WASH facilities provided in their localities. While congratulating a community in Ifedore that had provided a community water borehole facility without waiting for the government to do so, she encouraged other communities to do likewise.

In his remarks, the state chairman of AWDROP appreciated Mrs Akeredolu’s continuous support towards the association and WASH, and called for the general public to patronize the association, while decrying the prevalence of quacks and foreign expatriates in the water borehole drilling profession in Nigeria.

Highlight of the event was the free distribution of table water in the area by the association.