The Federal Government has renewed its push for safer drinking water with the commencement of a National Training of Trainers workshop under the National Water Quality Advocacy Campaign.
The initiative is being implemented through a partnership involving the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Nestlé Nigeria PLC and the Organised Private Sector in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (OPS-WASH).
The training is focused on the Water Quality Handbook, which organisers described as a practical guide designed to take water quality knowledge from policy level to states, local governments and communities.
Representing the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Utsev, Director Habu Jamilu said the country needed to move towards a unified approach to water quality management.
He said the handbook was designed to standardise procedures covering source protection, household water handling, water testing, household water treatment, climate change-related water quality challenges and community reporting.
Jamilu urged participants to engage actively in the training, describing them as key personnel who would be responsible for transferring the knowledge gained to other trainers and stakeholders.
He further stressed the importance of collaboration among government ministries, agencies, development partners and the private sector in tackling water quality challenges.
Meanwhile, OPS-WASH National Coordinator and Global Head, Dr. Nicholas Igwe, said the campaign was driven by the belief that providing access to water was not enough without addressing its quality.
According to him, Nestlé Nigeria’s Water Regeneration Project reflects the company’s commitment to improving water access and quality in communities while promoting governance and sustainability.
Igwe said the project includes community participation, adding that local communities had been involved in its design and implementation to promote ownership.
He said water quality concerns could have significant implications for public health, particularly where water contains harmful biological, chemical or physical contaminants.
The OPS-WASH coordinator said the national campaign would train technical personnel who would subsequently take water quality education to communities across the country.
He urged state governments to support the campaign and ensure that the knowledge generated at the national level translates into practical action at the grassroots.
“We must make sure that we impact the communities that we also serve,” he said.
Igwe noted that the campaign would help communities understand the relationship between water quality, health and economic productivity.
The training featured technical sessions on the basics of water quality, water safety and household water management, and water quality testing methods.
The programme also received a goodwill message from Engr. Chinyere Nnenna Igwegbe, President of the Association of Professional Women Engineers in Nigeria (APWEN).
The organisers expressed optimism that the Training of Trainers model would create a sustainable network of water quality advocates capable of extending the campaign to communities nationwide.
