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Ending Open Defecation by 2025: Osinbajo Inaugurates Steering Committee For Clean Nigeria Campaign

Published

5 years ago

June 2, 2020

Ending Open Defecation by 2025: Osinbajo Inaugurates Steering Committee Use The Toilet Campaign

Joel Ajayi

In order to ensure proper coordination of the campaign against Open Defecation as well as to effectively drive the efforts of making Nigeria Open Defecation Free by the set date of 2025, the Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Professor Yemi Osinbajo GCON, has inaugurated the Steering Committee for the Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet Campaign.

The Steering Committte was chaired by the Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman, Nigerian Governors Forum, His Excellency, Dr. Fayemi Kayode.

Speaking in Abuja during the inaguration, VP reveals that government is working very hard towards ending Open Defecation in Nigeria by 2025.

According to him, the campaign is equally intended to create a pool of resource persons to support Local Actors to implement a nation-wide transformational sanitation promotion, mobilize various strata of the society to imbibe a new culture of safe sanitation through behavioural change, communication, advocacy strategy; and establish mechanisms for tracking progress and sharing knowledge and lessons learnt.

In his welcome address, the Hon. Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman H. Adamu FNSE, FAEng said that the drive towards making Nigeria Open Defecation Free by 2025 will only be a reality when all Stakeholders demonstrate strong commitment to this national aspiration.

Engr. Adamu noted that a Secretariat has been set up by Federal Ministry of Water Resources for engagement with all stakeholders towards achieving the Campaign objectives.“Under the Governance structure as approved by the Federal Executive Council, a Steering Committee is to be set up to provide oversight on the implementation of the Clean Nigeria Campaign and its National Secretariat” he said.

The Minister went down the memory lane to recall that the national launch of the Campaign on 19th November, by His Excellency, the Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo marked the official roll out of the national transformative campaign while the signing of Executive Order 009 on 20th November, 2019 by the President has further given legal backing to the campaign.

The Steering Committee is required to hold bi – annual meetings to take stock of the activities and progress of the Clean Nigeria Campaign towards ending Open Defecation in Nigeria by 2025. The Minister therefore, tasked them “to take up this challenge to ensure that Nigeria exits from the ladder of countries with the highest population of people practicing Open.

Other members comprised of: Chairman, Senate Committee on Water Resources, Senator Bello Mandiya, Chairman, House Committee on Water Resources, Hon. Sada Soli, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi – Esan, Honourable Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman H. Adamu, Honourable Minister of Information Lai mohammed, Honourable Minister of works and Housing, Barr. Babatunde Fashola, Honourable Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Honourable Minister of Environment, Dr. Muhammad Mahmood.

Also, Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Paulen Tallen, Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouk, Honourable Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, Honourable Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, Honourable Minister of Federal Capital Territory Administration, Mohammed Musa Bello.

While other Steering Committee also include: Director General, National Orientation Agency, Dr. Garba Abari, Senior Special Assistant to Mr. President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Mrs. Adejoke Orelope Adefulire, Chairman, National President of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon. Kolade David Alabi, Representative of organized Private Sector in Wash (OPS-WASH), Dr. Nicholas Igwe, Representative of Development Part.

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Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

6 days ago

September 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.

More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.

The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.

Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.

The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.

Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.

Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.

Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.

The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.

Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.

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