The Create that Change Development Initiative (CCDI), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), based in Abuja, in partnership with the Swiss Embassy in Nigeria, has inaugurated two newly constructed eight-stall toilet facilities for pupils in public primary schools in low-income communities in Abuja.
The intervention was the first phase of the public-school revival initiative (PSRI), a flagship project aimed at improving learning environments in Nigeria’s public primary schools through critical infrastructure upgrades.
The toilet facilities are located at LEA Nomadic Primary School, Apo Dutsen-Garki, and LEA Primary School, Kabusa.
During the unveiling ceremony, Sharon Ayeni, executive director of CCDI, expressed satisfaction that the organisation had achieved its goal of providing functioning toilets for the pupils of the two schools.
“In the LEA nomadic school, they didn’t have electricity. So, we connected them to electricity,” Ayeni said.
“We have agreed with the school and the PTA for them to ensure that the bills are paid. The school in Kabusa already had a borehole here, but no running water. So, we reconnected them to the water supply before building this toilet facility.”
Ayeni said CCDI has discussed the maintenance of the facilities with the head teacher and the leadership of the Parent Teachers Association (PTA), who have promised to maintain the toilets.
“And we have said that we will be coming regularly just to check on the facilities and to provide them with a little support if they need help,” she said.
“But we’ve handed the toilets to the school and the community. So, it’s up to them to maintain these facilities.”
Patrick Egloff, the Swiss ambassador to Nigeria, thanked CCDI for its commitment and dedication to the future of Nigeria by championing education of children.
“The future of Nigeria lies with the pupils, lies in their hands, and the fact that they have a place to get education means a lot to them and is very important for the community and the country,” Egloff said.
“Now we are honoured to have partnered with the Create That Change Development Initiative because they have their ears and eyes on the ground with you.
“We are very pleased to contribute and to make a very small but, I think, important difference because going to school without proper sanitation is not the way it should be, and we’re very happy that this is changing now.
“We know it’s a small step, but I think it’s important for students so that they can focus and concentrate on studying and not have to hide somewhere.
This is especially for the girls and young women.”
Bisala Rukkiyya, head teacher at LEA Primary School, Kabusa, said the toilet situation in the school was terrible before CCDI’s intervention.
She said the organisation had asked her about the school’s biggest challenge.
“I told them that our immediate problem is the toilet because the pupils don’t have toilets, and if they can give us a toilet, we will be very happy,” she said.
“I showed them the site to build a toilet, and they started. Believe me, before a month, they had finished the toilet. I was very impressed.
“Words alone cannot express how happy I am with having this. Now there won’t be open defecation again; at least we will have a good toilet, a standard one.”
At the nomadic primary school in Dutsen Garki, the ceremony was witnessed by the Chief Imam of the community and the Hakimi ( community leader). The two leaders thanked Ayeni and her organisation while praying for more interventions in the schools.
Also present was a member of the board of CCDI, Mr. Jasper Ogbonna who maintained that the provision of the toilet facilities solved problems of contamination and it is helping towards the attainment of the Sustainable Development goals (SDGs).
Ogbonna: “This helps the children to concentrate on their education. This is also in line with agenda 2030 and what we are doing here at the grassroots will resonate in the national,” he said.
Among those who also witnessed the ceremony were,Tunde Ayeni, Senior Pastor, Graceville Christian Centre, Nkechi Ilochi-Kanny, Director, Business Development and Innovation at ActionAid Nigeria, who represented, Andrew Mamedu, Country Director, Action Aid Nigeria.
