By Najib Sani
The Adamawa State Government in partnership with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Bauchi field office, supported by the Government of the Netherlands has empowered 1,237 women to lead water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) projects in the state.
The initiative tagged 'Gender-transformative WASH' being implemented under the Accelerating Sanitation and Water for All (ASWA III), Phase III programme aims to ensure gender sensitivity and responsiveness in water, sanitation and hygiene projects and services, addressing the specific needs of women in their communities.
Speaking with journalists after a field trip to implementing communities in Ganye and Shelleng local government areas of the state, Desk Officer - ASWA III Project of the Adamawa State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), Aisha Isa Yusuf, said they engaged 1,237 women in WASH committees.
According to her, women are now at the forefront of hygiene promotion teams, holding key leadership positions, and driving WASH livelihoods, such as becoming Toilet Business Owners (TBOs).
She explained that the initiative is meant to make women central to sustainable WASH systems, ensuring their needs are met and their voices are heard.
Aisha noted that over 121,000 women and girls were reached with WASH services across the state under the project.
"We encouraged women to engage in selling toilet facilities, constructing toilets, and operating public toilets, to give them access to these essential services," she said.
Also commenting, the UNICEF Bauchi field office WASH officer, Nanbam Michael, said the move is expected to address the issue of men's domination in WASH projects implementation, which has often hindered women from accessing these facilities.
She emphasised that women's involvement is crucial for the success of WASH interventions as their needs would be considered and provided.
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