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C-BIGS takes safe water campaign to Pyakasa, Zuba communities

Published

5 years ago

March 28, 2022

By Mustapha Suleiman

A Non-Governmental Organisation- Community-Based Initiative for Growth and Sustainability (C-BIGS)recently conducted a 3-day training for community volunteers on Water Safety Planning (WSP).

The training was held at Jeparo hotel, Gwagwalada for Pyakasa, and Zuba communities with funding from European Union through the Agent for Citizen Driven Transformation (EU-ACT) program on improved sanitation and hygiene practices.

Speaking at the training program, the Executive Director for Community-Based Initiative for Growth and Sustainability (C-BIGS) Ms. Joy Seyi Olagundoye said that the NGO aims to create awareness around water, sanitation, and hygiene services in communities in Nigeria as well as to ensure that people are equipped with the right knowledge and are also engaged in safe practices when it comes to handling drinking water.

According to her, these practices are key to ensuring there are preventive measures to curb the spread of water-related diseases that plague our communities.

She explained that the training focused on equipping community members to be conscious of the various ways our drinking water can get contaminated; either at the point of fetching from the borehole or the means, we transport it to the house even the way the water is stored before drinking.

Asked about the assessment of the training and awareness program, she said that it was just the beginning and judged it a success. Olagundoye said that C-BIGS as an NGO is working with each of the communities, adding that they already have community members in small committees who will lead the process of engaging the wider population of the two communities. Olagundoye said,

“ it is this committee that was the key beneficiary of this training.

“With the training, they now have an idea on how to test for contamination like E-coli in their water and thus determine how safe their water is before consumption.” C-BIGS Executive Director further said that the community members were taught mechanisms and techniques of safe hygiene practices and water handling as a means to preventing contamination of water which could lead to water-borne diseases outbreak or spread. On challenges, she said that the group got all the support needed from AMAC and Gwagwalada Area Councils, adding that the community members were happy and actively participated in the program.

“Both Area Councils assigned to this project a health/ Environmental officer as a focal person representing the Council. So, I will say in overall it went well,“ she added.

Olagundoye urged the government at all levels to continue to support its activities and work together by creating an enabling environment and allowing initiatives like this to thrive.

“We had 30 participants in the training. During our community sensitization outreach to Pyakasa – the first community, we were able to reach about 40 persons. In Zuba, we had to reschedule for next week Tuesday.

”Speaking on the current state of sanitation and hygiene in Nigeria, she said that it is very alarming, adding that that is why President Muhammadu Buhari declared a state of emergency on open defecation and hygiene in the country. Commenting on the training and awareness program, Chief of Zuba community Haruna Barau Zuba noted that the program was so exciting as it avails the community members what to do to get clean safe water and sanitized environment.

“Everyone enjoyed it because it has to do with how to keep our lives safe. We do not have adequate water supply, the boreholes that have been sunk are not functional,” he said. Zuba said that during the assessment of the various sources where community persons fetch water by the NGO, It found the source of water is safe, but how it is being transported to houses for drinking is what leads to some form of secondary contamination. “ They further found that in some houses, the places they keep the type of container also leads to the water being contaminated.”

According to him, the community had a cholera outbreak 2 years ago where lives were lost, adding “ though we had lost lives then, things are getting better because the NGO has enlightened us on safe water chain.

While enjoining the government to give the NGO more support in order to reach out to as many communities as possible; he prayed to God to continue to help them in carrying out the enlightenment program.

In his own response, UNICEF lead facilitator, Oyonga Ndifon described the program as “ a wonderful one” going by the fact that in recent years cholera has been ravaging Nigeria seriously. According to him, a cholera outbreak in 2019 and 2020 in some states in Nigeria was quite devastating and claimed so many lives, saying such program will help the communities and Nigeria government to be proactive in the prevention of cholera outbreaks.“So it`s a program that teaches how to manage water handling and make it safe for communities` consumption. So, if community people are provided the necessary information, education and awareness, it will go a long way in curtailing diseases outbreak in Nigeria.

Ndifon explained that the Community Safety Planning approach used in this project is the brainwork of the Federal Government and the Federal Ministry of Water Resources (FMWR), in partnership with development partners.

Speaking on the performance of the NGO so far, he responded thus: “they have done fine, judging by what I have seen so far, but they need to strengthen capacity at the community level for the community to take ownership because most of these programs are just like models and we want the implementation to be the responsibility of the community to take charge and then take ownership. As we always say; you don’t expect me to come and give you a bike and when it got bad and still wants me to come and repair it, you need to take responsibility and ownership of the bike. That is how it is.”

He urged the government and all stakeholders to key into the program as a lot of lives have been lost because of outbreak of cholera and diarrhea.

“All should key into this local development program, especially this one that has to do with the safe management of water so that people get a blessing from safe clean water, I mean water can be a curse when it is contaminated it will definitely affect improvement, but when it is safe without any form of contamination people will feel healthy and then there will be an increase in productivity,” said the UNICEF lead facilitator.

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Eight Athletes, 11 Medals: Applauding Asagba’s Sports Leadership At DELSU

Published

2 weeks ago

October 14, 2026

The Gleamer

By Godspower Odedede

Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, has recorded an impressive outing at the 15th West Africa University Games (WAUG) 2026, winning 11 medals with just eight athletes who represented the university in only three sporting events.

The university won seven gold, two silver and two bronze medals to occupy seventh position on the medal table, an achievement that underscores the potential of its athletes and the importance of purposeful investment in university sports.

DELSU participated in the men’s 100-metre sprint with two athletes, women’s judo with two athletes, and swimming with four male athletes. Despite the limited number of athletes and sporting events, the university’s medal haul was a commendable performance and a source of pride for the institution.

The achievement deserves particular recognition given the restricted scope of DELSU’s participation. With representation in only three sports, the university demonstrated that focused preparation, adequate support and the effective deployment of available talent can produce encouraging results at major university competitions.

A major highlight of DELSU’s preparation for WAUG 2026 was the approval by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Samuel Ogheneovo Asagba, for a quality two-week training programme for the university’s athletes in Asaba.

The camp provided the athletes with an opportunity to prepare using the excellent and up-to-date training facilities available in the state capital.

The initiative is particularly noteworthy as it represents a significant commitment to structured preparation for university sports. Rather than relying solely on athletes’ natural abilities, the training programme recognised the importance of preparation, access to appropriate facilities and institutional investment in performance.

Professor Asagba deserves commendation for this intervention and for demonstrating a willingness to provide practical support for sports development at DELSU. The university’s WAUG performance offers an encouraging indication of what can be achieved when athletes receive purposeful preparation and administrative backing.

The Vice-Chancellor’s broader vision for sports infrastructure is also encouraging. Plans are understood to be underway for the construction of an ultra-modern sports complex for the university in the near future. If delivered as anticipated, the facility could significantly strengthen DELSU’s capacity for athlete development, training, competitions and sports science activities.

Such infrastructure would also support the university’s ambitions to improve its performance at national and international university games. A modern sports complex could provide a foundation for more systematic talent identification, performance monitoring, coaching development and the preparation of athletes across a wider range of sporting events.

Special recognition must also go to Mrs Epebi-Ebi Noah, the swimming coach, who was physically present at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, with the DELSU swimming team during the competition. Her presence and involvement underline the importance of coaching support, technical guidance and close supervision of athletes during major sporting events.

The performance also calls for commendation of the Chairman of the University Sports Committee, Professor Ochuko Nabofa, whose leadership has brought renewed attention and energy to sports development at DELSU. His role in supporting the university’s sports administration and helping to strengthen the sporting environment deserves recognition.

Similarly, the Acting Director of Sports, Peter Omojuwa, deserves commendation for his administrative responsibilities and contribution to the university’s sporting programme. The Chief Coach, Lucky Ajaino, should also be recognised for his role in the technical preparation and development of DELSU athletes.

The combined efforts of the university management, sports committee, sports administrators and coaches are essential to sustaining progress. While medals provide a visible measure of success, the systems established to prepare athletes and support their development are equally important to the long-term growth of university sports.

DELSU’s WAUG achievement follows another notable outing at the last Nigeria University Games Association (NUGA) Games, where the university finished fourth. That result was regarded as one of the finest performances in the institution’s sporting history and strengthened expectations that DELSU could become an even more formidable force in university sports.

The latest WAUG performance provides another reason for optimism. However, the university’s participation in only three events also reveals an opportunity for further growth. Expanding participation across more sports, identifying talented students and improving access to specialised training could help DELSU compete for a higher position on future medal tables.

The proposed sports complex, if realised, could play a central role in this expansion. It should ideally be supported by sustained funding, modern equipment, qualified coaches, athlete welfare programmes and collaboration with relevant sports science professionals. These measures would help ensure that infrastructure investment translates into measurable improvements in performance.

The university could also consider strengthening performance analysis, sports medicine, strength and conditioning, talent identification and systematic monitoring of athletes’ progress. Such an approach would help transform individual successes into a sustainable university-wide sports development programme.

DELSU’s performance at WAUG 2026 is worthy of celebration. Eight athletes competed in just three sporting events and returned with 11 medals, including seven gold. The result reflects the potential within the university and provides a strong basis for building a more ambitious sports programme.

Professor Asagba’s approval of the two-week training camp and the prospect of an ultra-modern sports complex offer reasons to look forward to the next phase of DELSU sports development. The challenge now is to sustain the momentum, broaden participation and ensure that the university’s sporting ambitions are matched by consistent investment and effective implementation.

With continued support from the Vice-Chancellor, the University Sports Committee, the Directorate of Sports, coaches and other stakeholders, DELSU can build on its recent achievements and strengthen its position among Nigeria’s leading sporting universities.

The message from WAUG 2026 is clear: DELSU has demonstrated what a small but well-supported contingent can achieve. With broader participation, sustained preparation and modern sporting infrastructure, the university has the potential to accomplish even greater things.

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