By Asuquo Cletus
Members of the Obubra Local Government Area Task Group on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene have completed a three-day capacity-building workshop aimed at strengthening efforts to tackle open defecation and improve access to safe water in Cross River State.
The training, held at the Obubra Local Government Council Secretariat, was organised under the WASH Systems for Health programme by the Cross River State Ministry of Water Resources in collaboration with the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Self Help Africa, as well as the Society for Water and Sanitation.
Declaring the workshop open, the Chairman of the State Task Group on WASH, Dr Okon Ita, said the state government had demonstrated strong political will to ensure the success of the initiative in Obubra.
He noted that the release of counterpart funding, alongside the launch of the state water policy and the ongoing work on the Open Defecation Free prohibition bill, underscored the government’s commitment to improving sanitation and hygiene outcomes.
“With these in place, Obubra has no reason to fail. I urge all stakeholders to put all hands on deck to ensure the success of this project,” he said.
Represented by Engr Eni Nkanu, Ita added that the training was designed to equip participants with the necessary knowledge and tools to drive sustainable WASH interventions at the grassroots.
Facilitators, led by Kogbara Ayaba from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and supported by Ikwo Bassey of RUWATSSA and other partner organisations, took participants through key thematic areas including community-led total sanitation, hygiene promotion, water safety planning, gender mainstreaming, and resource mobilisation.
Sessions also covered the national guidelines for Open Defecation Free verification and certification, as well as practical strategies for managing water schemes, ensuring financial accountability, and strengthening advocacy.
Participants engaged in breakout sessions to identify prevailing WASH challenges in Obubra, map available resources, and develop actionable solutions tailored to local needs.
A major highlight of the workshop was the development of a comprehensive work plan to guide the activities of the Obubra LTG-WASH in driving improved sanitation and water access across communities.
The training followed the recent inauguration of the Obubra LTG-WASH, chaired by Florence Asuk, which is expected to enhance community ownership, coordination, and response to persistent sanitation and water-related challenges in the area.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, the alternate chairman of the task group, John Nte, expressed optimism that the knowledge gained would translate into tangible improvements.
He pledged the group’s commitment to intensifying hygiene promotion campaigns, supporting sustainable sanitation services, and mobilising resources to address WASH challenges in Obubra communities.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts by the state government and its partners to strengthen WASH systems through policy reforms, institutional capacity building, and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
