The Lagos State Government on Wednesday called for the collective participation of everyone in advocacy to improve school sanitation infrastructure in all schools across the metropolis.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab , at the end of e Stakeholders Interactive Session on School Sanitation held in Lagos.
Wahab urged stakeholders to mobilize resources to address sanitation improvement gaps in all schools.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Gaji Omobolaji, Tokunbo said that adequate sanitation and hygiene practices were the foundation of a healthy learning in any environment.
He said that the lives of future leaders were shaped within the walls of schools.
He added that it was the duty of everyone to ensure that young minds grow up under the proper conditions that support both their education and health.
He described the2024 theme “Embracing Sanitation and Hygiene Behavior in Schools in Lagos State’” as very apt, adding that schools were more than just places of learning but places where values, attitudes, and behaviors were formed.
“Together, we can create a school environment in Lagos that promotes good health, dignity, and equality for all children.
“This is our shared responsibility, and I am confident that, united in purpose, we can achieve this vision for our children,” Wahab said.
He said that when best sanitation practices were embraced, it would not only benefit the students but also the immediate families and the community at large.
He addied that the government recognised that some challenges may exist but were not insurmountable.
He said inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene were barriers to education, particularly in schools where access to clean water, proper toilet facilities, and knowledge of hygienic practices was limited.
The commissioner stressed that everyone should work to ensure that no child, regardless of gender or age, was left behind in this cause.
He said the present administration places significant emphasis on Health, Environment, Education, and Technology under the T.H.E.M.E.S (+) agenda.
“Towards this end, the ministry collaborated with relevant MDAs and corporate organisations on sustainable intervention projects/programmes to
ensure that best Sanitation practices are embraced in all Schools in Lagos through effective monitoring,” Wahab said.
He added that the Ministry has set sanitation standards in schools especially in the area of accreditation process for the establishment of private schools in the State.
He said that the success rate has moved from 10 per cent in the year 2021 to 65 per cent in 2023 through a collaboration with the Office of Education Quality Assurance.
The Commissioner said that the 2024 Sanitation Competition Assessment has revealed the need for more collaborations with government, corporate sectors, parents, NGOs and CSOs.
He said this would ensure that sanitation infrastructure in schools were not only available but adequate in relation to pupils’ population, access and well maintained.
“I urge every one of us to become worthy ambassadors for change.
“Students, you are the most important stakeholders in this journey; Embrace the principles of good hygiene; wash your hands with soap and water.
“Keep your environment clean, and be mindful of waste disposal” Wahab said.
He called on teachers to continually educate and empower the students to take charge of their health.
He said that by embracing sanitation and hygiene behavior, we lay a solid foundation for a healthier future for the city and nation.
He added that every child deserves the opportunity to learn in an environment that is safe, clean, and supportive of their overall development.
The statement quoted the Director Sanitation Services, Dr. Hassan Sanuth, as saying that access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene is an important basic human need for the health and well-being of everyone.
Sanuth added that in the year 2022, United Nations reported that 2.2 billion people still lacked portable water, 703 million without basic water service; 3.5 billion people lacked safely managed sanitation.
He said the report said that 1.5 billion were without basic sanitation services; two billion lacked basic handwashing facility and 653 million with no hand washing facility at all.
The statement also quoted the Guest Speaker, Mr Dare Oduniyi from Water Aid Nigeria, as saying that optimal performance can only be gotten from students with a good sanitary environment.
Oduniyi said that the environment should be safe and conducive for physical, mental and emotional health of the child to achieve maximum benefits from educational benefits.
