Abuja: The Dedicated Women Action and Advocacy for Rural and Urban Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Support in Nigeria, a coalition, has called for a strategic framework to expand its reach across the 36 states. The President of the group, Mrs. Cordelia Agbo, made the call at a two-day training themed 'Empowering Women Executives in the WASH Sector' on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Agbo emphasized the need for a drafted strategy document to outline the mission, vision, core values, roles, and responsibilities, with a strong focus on accountability. She stressed the importance of continuous follow-up with state focal persons, assigning each executive committee member specific states for monitoring and reporting progress.
The Gender Specialist, Mrs. Mary Mbakpa, highlighted the necessity for deliberate efforts to influence policies, practices, and resource allocation to ensure gender-equitable WASH services. She advocated for meaningful participation of women in decision-making structures from community to national levels, emphasizing the importance of policy influencing, research, advocacy, and public mobilization.
Mrs. Chizoma Opara, National Coordinator of Clean Nigeria Campaign (CNC), underscored that gender-inclusive WASH projects are crucial for effectiveness and sustainability. She noted that to achieve SDG 6 and Nigeria's sanitation goals, women must be recognized and empowered as central to WASH transformation.
The National Secretary of the coalition, Ms. Felicia Ngaji-Usibe, appealed for support from development partners, government agencies, and the private sector, calling for financial, technical, and institutional backing to strengthen the coalition's initiatives.
The Dedicated Women Action and Advocacy for Rural and Urban Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Support in Nigeria (NG-DEWASH) operates under the umbrella of the Africa Water and Sanitation Association (AfWASA). Established with support from AfWASA and the Gates Foundation during the AfWASA Congress in Kenya in 2016, the network secured a grant of USD 3,000 to empower women executives in the WASH sector. Since inception, women professionals across Nigeria have benefited from numerous capacity-building initiatives.