By YANGE IKYAA
The 2022 edition of the World Toilet Summit (WTS), which kicked off at the weekend in Abuja with the theme “Sanitation Innovations for Economic Development,” has opened new doors to economic opportunities as delegates from across the globe exhibited different technologies that can both serve in providing cleaner communities and commercial profits.
In her opening remarks on Friday to welcome participants to the summit, the permanent secretary, federal ministry of water resources, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, stated that the event is targeted at high level decision makers, traditional and non-traditional sectors, as well as stakeholders from across the world which include development partners, the private sector, sanitation practitioners, regulators, civil society, media and the academia is jointly hosted by the Organized Private Sector in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (OPS-WASH) and the World Toilet Organization (WTO).
According to the permanent secretary, the summit is geared towards bringing to the fore the opportunities in the circular sanitation economy and the enabling environment needed to maximize it.
She further revealed that the Federal Government of Nigeria is driving the national campaign to end open defecation by 2025 through the Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet Campaign.
The Coordinator, OPS-WASH, Dr. Nicholas Igwe, moderated the first session of five panelists, with the topic “Scaling Up the Sanitation Economy for National Development”.
The session critically examined potentials for toilet economy, circular and smart sanitation economy, market based approaches, public sanitation, health and climate change, while the second session titled ‘”Innovations for Universal Coverage” was moderated by the founder of World Toilet Summit, Prof Jack Sim.
During the second session, an indepth analysis of policies and regulations, institutional and human resource development, community led approaches, as well as technological solutions and financing mechanisms was conducted.
Other presentation topics included “Ending Open Defecation in Nigeria: Government and Partners Perspectives, as well as Japan Toilet Culture and Toilet Revolution in China.
