… a game-changer initiative unveiled!…
During the grand celebration of Self Help Africa’s 25th Anniversary, held in Abuja, the Executive Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu, underlined his administration’s unwavering commitment to delivering vital necessities such as clean and portable water to rural communities within the state.
Represented by the Vice Chairman/CEO of the State Planning Commission, Pastor Dr. Bong Duke, Governor Otu expressed the state’s eagerness to collaborate with Self Help Africa to ensure that rural Cross Riverians gain access to clean water. He praised the organization for initiating the WS4H project and pledged governmental support through counterpart funding, emphasizing the importance of creating a conducive environment for the project’s success.
Dr. Bong Duke emphasized the state’s role in assisting Self Help Africa in piloting the project across three Local Government Areas, with a focus on improving the professional maintenance of rural water supply systems. He also noted the state’s achievement in securing a substantial grant of Five Million Euros from the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) following the submission of a compelling justification document.
Anticipated outcomes of the project include facilitating accountable and inclusive planning and budgeting processes, unlocking financing for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) initiatives, strengthening WASH capacity, and decentralizing the clean Nigeria campaign, thereby hastening progress towards achieving an open defecation-free status.
The prestigious event, graced by the Honorable Minister for State on Water Resources and Sanitation, Dr. Chinyere Almona, witnessed the unveiling of SHA’s ambitious 5-year strategic plan for the WS4H project. It also showcased various projects implemented over the past quarter-century, with an impressive 70% executed within Cross River State.
Key officials from the state, including the Commissioner for MIDC, the General Manager of RUWATSA, and the Deputy Director/HOD Nutrition from the State Planning Commission, actively participated in the event alongside representatives from other strategic partners in the WASH sector.
Self Help Africa, a renowned international development organization headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, boasts extensive experience in Africa, including over two decades of impactful work in Nigeria. With operations spanning across 17 program countries, focusing on critical sectors such as Agriculture, Climate & Environment, Enterprise, Energy, Nutrition, and WASH, the organization is poised to catalyze systemic change, leading to improved health outcomes and reduced malnutrition rates.