By Muyideen Aliyu, Ilorin
The Kwara State Government, in collaboration with the Kwara for Kwarans Initiative, has launched a sensitisation campaign to promote hygiene and safe sanitation practices at Oja Tuntun Market in Ilorin.
The campaign, themed “Say No to Open Defecation,” featured presentations on proper hygiene, safe sanitation, and community responsibility, highlighting the importance of collective action in building cleaner and healthier communities.
The State Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Usman Yunusa Lade, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving the wellbeing of residents.
He highlighted the state’s achievements in water and sanitation, noting that initiatives such as the campaign are key to promoting public health.
Lade assured traders and residents at Oja Tuntun Market of continued government support for sanitation facilities, while urging communities to take responsibility for maintaining the infrastructure provided.
“Government can provide toilets and water, but it is the responsibility of residents to ensure proper management,” he said.
The General Manager of the State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), Chief Olorunfemi Adewumi Oladipo, commended the state government and the Kwara for Kwarans Initiative for their collaboration.
He stressed that government interventions alone are not sufficient to achieve sustainable sanitation, emphasising the need for active community participation.
Oladipo noted that RUWASSA has implemented several programmes across the state to improve access to clean water and sanitation, adding that community ownership enhances the longevity and impact of such facilities.
He also underscored the importance of continuous public education, describing sensitisation campaigns as critical to changing behaviour and promoting proper hygiene practices at the grassroots.
The RUWASSA boss reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to monitoring and supporting communities to ensure that water and sanitation facilities remain functional.
He urged residents to view the facilities as shared assets, noting that sustainability requires collective responsibility.
Earlier, the Convener of Kwara for Kwarans Initiative, Amb. Anjorin Samuel Babatunde, called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to achieve a cleaner environment.
He commended the state government and RUWASSA for their efforts to improve sanitation at Oja Tuntun Market.