Key officials from International Non-Governmental Organisation, United Purpose/Self Help Africa (UP/SHA), recently paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Joseph Terlumun Utsev in Abuja, Nigeria.

In the meeting, some of the organization’s work towards improving the standard of living in many disadvantaged communities, and providing sustainable Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services were highlighted.
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Country Director, UP/SHA in Nigeria, Mrs. Joy Aderele, revealed that the organisation continues to evaluate the impact of its interventions, and utilizes the knowledge gained to guide future programming. “Part of our five-year strategic plan is to expand our geographical footprint to other states in Nigeria. We have been operating a saturation approach in Benue, Cross River and Ebonyi states for over two decades and now at a point where we want to scale our work to other states” she stated.

Assistant Head of Programmes, UP/SHA, Mr. Shadrack Guusu, shed some light on community-led interventions of the organisation that which has contributed to the WASH sector through systems strengthening, professionalising rural water supply and behavioural change for improved sanitation and hygiene practices.

“In 2016, through our area wide sanitation approach, we facilitated the first open defecation free local government in Cross River state, and in doing so, we demonstrated that area wide sanitation was possible. The sector was challenged by this feat which stimulated achievement of 105 open defecation free local government areas in Nigeria led by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and other development partners.”
Mrs. Mary Sweeney, the Gender and Social Inclusion Advisor for UP/SHA, emphasized the organization’s drive to promote gender inclusivity through all its programs: “We are slowly, as an equity issue, trying to bring women up. In the work that we do in area of water and sanitation, we try to look at things from the point of view of both men and women, and make sure that what we do has a gender lens and that we are very responsive to the needs of both.”

The Minister was impressed by the organisation’s work, and stated that he was familiar with UP/SHA’s programmes in his previous role as Honourable Commissioner for Water Resources and Environment in Benue State. He expressed confidence in the NGO’s work and promised to continue rallying support for their initiatives: “We will reach out to more states, sensitize them, engage with the governments, and tell them the need for them to key into this, so that together we can push for more – increased coverage of improved sanitation.”
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