The Federal Government, in collaboration with Nestlé Nigeria Plc and the Organised Private Sector in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (OPS-WASH), has commenced a national Training of Trainers workshop aimed at strengthening water quality management and promoting safer drinking water across Nigeria.

The workshop is part of the National Water Quality Advocacy Campaign and focuses on the Water Quality Handbook, developed as a standard reference for managing water quality across communities and institutions.

Representing the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Utsev, Director Habu Jamilu said the country needed a unified and standardised approach to tackling water quality challenges.

He said the handbook provides guidance across the water quality chain, including protection of water sources, household water handling, water testing, household water treatment and measures to address the impact of climate change on water quality.

Jamilu described the participants as the technical core of their respective institutions and urged them to use the training to acquire not only knowledge of the handbook but also the capacity to train others.

He stressed the importance of collaboration among government agencies and other stakeholders, noting that water quality challenges could not be effectively addressed by a single ministry or institution.

Also speaking, OPS-WASH National Coordinator and Global Head, Dr. Nicholas Igwe, said the initiative represented a shift from merely increasing access to water to ensuring that the water consumed by Nigerians is safe and of acceptable quality.

Igwe said communities needed to understand the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water, as well as the health and economic consequences of consuming contaminated water.

“We want people to know exactly what they drink and how it affects their health,” he said.

According to him, the campaign would train personnel who would subsequently take the message and knowledge to states, local government areas and communities.

He linked poor water quality to various health challenges, particularly diseases associated with contaminated water, stressing that healthy populations were essential to building strong economies.

Igwe called for stronger involvement of state governments, urging governors and relevant water and sanitation agencies to support the campaign and ensure that the training reaches communities.

He said private-sector participation was equally important in ensuring that water quality interventions moved beyond policy documents and reached people who depend on local water sources.

The initiative builds on the Water Quality Handbook launched in April 2026 with the support of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation.

Technical sessions at the workshop covered the fundamentals of water quality, water safety and household water management, as well as water quality testing methods.

The workshop brought together representatives of relevant ministries and stakeholders across the water, sanitation and hygiene sector as part of efforts to strengthen national capacity for improved water quality management.