Lagos: Prof. Jack Sim, founder of the World Toilet Organisation (WTO), has urged Nigeria to prioritise the creation of attractive and sustainable toilets through private sector collaboration. Sim made the appeal during a virtual stakeholder meeting organised by the Organised Private Sector in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (OPS-WASH) on Saturday. He also announced the collaboration with OPS-WASH to strengthen the global private sector participation in the WASH sector.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Sim stated that Nigeria should utilise social media to make sanitation a social priority, driving demand for better toilet access, especially in underserved regions. This approach, he noted, would encourage both governments and the private sector to prioritise sanitation. Addressing the theme ‘Toilet, a Place for Peace’ for World Toilet Day 2024, Sim emphasised focusing on sanitation as a path to peace, particularly in areas affected by conflict and displacement.
Referencing recent UN discussions on globa
l conflicts, Sim argued that wars are not driven by profits from the global weapons trade, nor by religion, race, or people. He stated, ‘Sanitation is key to peace, not just in post-conflict settings but also in peaceful times, where many children and communities still lack access to sanitation.’ He highlighted the essential role of good sanitation in maintaining the health and dignity of children and women, as a critical aspect of quality of life.
Sim also underscored the importance of the UN in promoting sanitation, noting that social media is one of the most effective ways to raise awareness. He explained, ‘People often feel compelled to demand sanitation when they see others living in better conditions, particularly when they lack basic amenities like toilets. This creates a sense of urgency and leads people to prioritise sanitation, even reallocating funds from alcohol, cigarettes, or gambling to invest in toilets.’
The OPS-WASH National Coordinator, Dr Nicholas Igwe, emphasised the importance of glo
bal partnerships in promoting the WASH sector. Igwe, the Global Private Sector representative on the Sanitation and Water for All Steering Committee, stressed the need for innovative investments and technologies to close sector gaps. He urged collaboration between NGOs, the private sector, development partners, and research institutions to drive sustainable and effective solutions.
Igwe commended Prof. Sim for his dedication to sanitation and for founding the WTO and World Toilet Day, celebrated globally on November 19. He also recognised the private sector’s role in resource management. ‘OPS-WASH, with offices across Africa, will be driving resource mobilisation, investment, and climate resilience technologies in supporting the global sanitation drive,’ he said.
He mentioned past initiatives, like Nigeria hosting the World Toilet Summit in 2022, which demonstrated the country’s commitment to sanitation by engaging multiple countries and stakeholders. This year, the Federal Ministry of Environment, in par
tnership with OPS-WASH, will organise World Toilet Day in Kano, encouraging states to compete in sanitation coordination, with awards for the best-performing states.
Igwe stated that, through collaboration, Nigeria aims to be open-defecation-free by 2025, or by 2030 at the latest. He also praised the inspiring use of technology to advance sustainability across various sectors in Nigeria. He asserted that prioritising local technology would reduce import reliance, retain resources, and create opportunities for Nigerians in the WASH sector.
‘The initiatives launched since 2022, such as converting faecal sludge into organic gas and manure, are particularly commendable. Projects like the one in the Port Harcourt prison are practical examples of a circular economy, where waste is repurposed for productive use. By generating organic gas and manure, these programmes reduce waste and support agricultural activities, benefiting both the environment and local communities,’ Igwe added.
Goodwill messages were deliv
ered by representatives from the Federal Ministry of Environment, Environmental Health Officials, and Aquatelos. OPS-WASH is a global coordinating platform for private sector participation in the WASH sector. It operates with three core pillars: Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy, financial innovations, and Technology and data.