Water Day: WEWE, USAID S2S Advocates for Visible Water Supply in Ebonyi State.

As the world marked the 2022 World Water Day on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, the Widows and Orphans Empowerment Organization, in partnership with USAID State2State and other CSOs, intensified efforts to make groundwater visible and accessible to residents of the state. WEWE made the call at an event to mark the year’s World Water Day on Tuesday, March 22nd, 2022 at Anson Suit Limited, Mile 50, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

Mr. Friday Aja a resource person and HoD Pollution Control and Waste Manager in the State Ministry of Environment noted in his presentation, that groundwater which is mostly invisible to many is usually contaminated by waste pollution making it unsafe for human usage. He emphasized the need for collective efforts towards making groundwater visible, accessible, and usable through proper waste disposal, ending open deification, and proper sewage disposal to save groundwater from further contamination.

Mr. Friday Aja also observed that excessive application of chemical fertilizer and non-recycling of waste products are other factors that affect groundwater negatively and make it invisible and unavailable for use.

Further insight was given on the history and significance of World Water Day, the acting General Manager of Ebonyi State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (EB-RUWASSA); Engr. Andrew Sunday Opoke said the celebration started in 1992 by United Nations General Assembly to create awareness on availability, utility, preservation, accessibility, and protection of water to achieve accessible portable water by 2030.

He explained that the significance of water cannot be overemphasized as it is used for domestic, agriculture, industrial, drinking, and other uses.

Dr. Opoke stressed the need availability of safe and potable water in Ebonyi State and beyond to achieve the year’s theme which is Groundwater: making the invisible visible. He further revealed that the government at all levels has failed in the provision of safe visible and accessible water, hence the need to give it priority attention by engaging experts in reviving the State water sector.

Earlier in the opening remarks, the program officer of Widows and Orphans Empowerment organization, Mr. Emmanuel Adiele, and the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Mr. Frank Nebo welcomed participants who were drawn from CSOs, WASH officers of Abakaliki, Afikpo South, Ikwo, Ohaukwu, Ivo and Ohaozara LGA as well as youths and women representatives of the above LGAs.

Both explained that the event was to celebrate and create awareness about water and its importance, adding that it was part of their advocacy in line with their USAID assisted project aimed at achieving WASH policy, Accountability, transparency, and Effectiveness in governance at all levels.

Participants who did group work and developed action plans at the event promised to put to use all they learnt from the program.

Credits: Peoples Guide.