Ekiti State Sustainable Urban, Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) Programme, has organized a two-day training programme for WASH Directors, members of Grievance Redress Committees (GRCs), Water Sanitation and Hygiene Committees (WASHCOMs), and Water Consumer Associations (WCAs) across the three Senatorial Districts of the State.
The capacity-building workshop, designed to strengthen community participation , sustainability as well as ownership of SURWASH Projects and ensuring effective implementation of the Programme in the State.
In his opening remarks at forum, the State Programme Coordinator of SURWASH,Engr. Steven Adewunmi, welcomed participants and emphasized the importance of the training to the long-term success of the SURWASH initiative.
“This training is designed to help us understand our responsibilities in sustaining access to clean water and improved sanitation. It is also a platform for open dialogue, where everyone can raise concerns and share ideas that will make the program a success” , he stated.
He urged participants to take ownership of SURWASH projects in their communities and ensure proper maintenance for Sustainability of all facilities constructed under the program.
Also speaking,the SURWASH Monitoring and Evaluation Officer in the State, Mr. Olorunfemi Olatunji explained the key Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs) used to assess the progress of the project to participants
He highlighted DLI 5, which focuses on households provided with improved sanitation facilities, and DLI 6, which tracks communities that have achieved and sustained Open Defecation Free (ODF) status.
“A house without a toilet is an incomplete project. Our goal is to ensure that every household has improved sanitation, and every community achieves ODF status that is maintained over time”, he stated .
Olatunji also touched on other SURWASH objectives, such as expanding access to clean water, ensuring gender balance, and improving WASH facilities in Schools and Healthcare Centers.
On the Project specifications Standards, Engr. Olajide Olatilu the Small Town Engineer, stressed the importance of adhering strictly to construction specifications for toilets, Boreholes, hand Washing basin and other WASH facilities.
He urged the Water Sanitation and Hygiene Committee members to act as on-site monitors SURWASH Project sites across the State to prevent shortcuts by contractors.
“Every facility must meet specification,Report any contractor who cuts corners. Our duty is to ensure what we build is safe, durable, and fit for purpose,” he stressed
He further highlighted gender-separated toilets, disability ramps, and mandatory signposts on all completed facilities.
Mrs. Bunmi Olaseeni , the SURWASH Sanitation officer spoke on the crucial roles of Water Sanitation and Hygiene Committee members and Water Consumers Association in promoting good hygiene practices. She explained how poor sanitation and open defecation contaminate water sources, farms, and food, spreading dangerous diseases.
“Improved toilets prevent disease transmission,” she said. “Let us make it a community goal that no household practices open defecation.”
She emphasized handwashing, personal hygiene, and environmental cleanliness.
Speaking on Environmental and Social Safeguards, the Programme Environmental Officer ,Mrs. Tolu Osudare, explained how SURWASH prioritizes community wellbeing by ensuring facilities are built only in safe, environmentally suitable locations.
She also highlighted the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) with its complaint box and toll-free line 080000198585, encouraging citizens to report concerns.
On his paper , Social Safeguard officer under SURWASH,
Mr. Aladegbola Gbenga Adeolu discussed grievance redress processes, engaging participants on how to manage community complaints peacefully and fairly.
A community leader in Oke Ayedun ,Chief Adebayo Olaiya noted that community patience and dialogue help resolve conflicts effectively.
Further presentations were given by Mrs. Ifeoluwa Olayomade, Environmental Officer from Ekiti Water and Sewerage Company who elaborated on environmental safeguards and safe site selection, and Mrs. Folasade Taiwo, the Social Safeguard officer from Ekiti Water and Sewerage Company who addressed social safeguards and community harmony during SURWASH implementations.
In his closing remarks, the General Manager of Ekiti State Water and Sanitation Regulatory Agency, Engr. Ayodele Osalade, encouraged participants to be ambassadors of clean and healthy living.
“We must take personal responsibility to make our communities Open Defecation Free and ensure every home has at least one improved toilet.Clean environments lead to healthy living and prosperity”, he stated
Following the two-day training, the Environmental and Social Safeguard Officers of the State Program Coordination Unit (SPCU) and the implementing agency embarked on practical fieldwork to deepen the understanding of the Grievance Redress Committee (GRC), Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Committee (WASHCOM), and the Water Consumer Association (WCA) on the Environmental and Social Safeguards matters.
During the exercise, the team engaged members of the Committees whom had earlier completed the theoretical sessions of the training.
The field sensitization was designed to reinforce their roles during project implementation and highlight what must be monitored at construction sites.
The SPCU team emphasized strict compliance with construction specifications and encouraged committee members to speak up against any attempt by contractors to deliver substandard work.
Contractors and supervisors from the Ekiti State Small Towns, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (EKSTRUWASA) were also reminded to maintain continuous engagement with community stakeholders throughout the construction process.
According to the SPCU, this field exercise forms part of ongoing efforts to ensure transparency, accountability, quality delivery, and long-term sustainability of the SURWASH Program in Ekiti State.