Akwa Ibom State Government reads riot act against open defecation
The Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Lands and Water Resources, Pastor Umo Eno has disclosed that the Governor Udom Emmanuel led administration earnestly desires to make Akwa Ibom open defecation free.
The Commissioner made this known while declaring open a train the trainer session on National Youth Engagement Programme (NYEP), Monday, September 13, 2021.
He noted that the session was basically to train those who will in turn train others to carry out sensitization of Akwa Ibom natives and residents in different areas of the State.
While acknowledging that the programme is Federal Government training and engagement programme and executed through the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, he commended Governor Udom Emmanuel for graciously approving the programme and providing the required counterpart funding.
Pastor Umo Eno also commended the Zonal Cordinator, National Youth Volunters Proggramme – Mrs Susan Offiono and the Zonal Consultant – Life Span Development Initiative – Dr. Chukwuma Ovy for their commitment and interest to ensure that the programme is executed in Akwa Ibom State.
He urged the trainers (participants) who were all environmental health officers in the different local government areas of the State, to ensure that volunteers that will be working with them are committed to their responsibilities in order to ensure meaningful success.
In his words, “today we are training you as the trainers so that you understand what the programme is all about, and then pass the information on to the 100 volunteers that will be under you in each of the local government areas.
“In the next three months, you will be working with us by supervising the volunteers and ensuring that volunteers working with you are actually doing the work and not sitting at home only to return and fill in wrong report. You are the eyes of the government both of the Federal and State Government.
“So it is an onerous responsibility, but I have no doubt in my mind that you will carry it out to the best of your abilities, and in line with international best practices so that at the end of this exercise, we will move the State further and Akwa Ibom State will be one of the States in Nigeria that will be open defecation free,” he added.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSEPWMA), Hon. Prince Ikim emphasized that the programme is critical to the State Government and as such, he was passionate about its execution.
Prince Ikim who harped on the importance of cleanliness and a clean environment generally, advised the environmental health officers to take the training serious to achieve its objectives and assured that the agency, (AKSEPWMA) will visit each of the LGAs to encourage and ensure that the right thing is done.
It should be noted that same programme has already been executed in some other parts of the South South States in Nigeria including Cross Rivers and Rivers States.
Also present at the event were the Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, TPL Aniekan Akpan, Acting General Manager, Akwa Ibom State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (AKRUWATSAN) – Mr. Idongesit Ido, Directors in the Ministry including Director Admin and Supplies – Mrs. Bella Akpanya, and Director Water, Mr. Iboro Udoh, and Special Assistant to the Governor on Project Monitoring – Hon. Esema Esema among others.
