*IbomWASH+ Project Director lauds government
By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel has strengthened the efforts of government and private partners at ensuring better health of citizens by signing the State Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Sector Bill into law.
This was disclosed during the 2nd Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Media Round-table, which featured the innuaguration of Ibom WASH Media Committee at the week in Uyo, the state capital.
Commissioner for Information and Strategy in the state, Comrade Ini Ememobong while speaking at the event which was organized by IbomWASH+, reiterated government commitment to WASH Sector in the state, however urged the media to ensure effective publicity and awareness creation on the imperatives of the Law.
Ememobong who declared the meeting open, noted that, water and sanitation are very critical in the survival matrix and stressed the need for interpretation of the legal framework of the WASH sector law to the masses to enable them know their right on issues pertaining to water resources, especially those in the rural communities.
Represented by the Director of Public Relations in the Ministry, Mrs. Grace Akpan, the Commissioner commended IbomWASH+ for working hard towards the actualization of the WASH Sector Law and congratulated the participants at the Ibom WASH Media-round table for accepting to come on board to work for the benefit of the society.
Acknowledging that, the Ibom WASH Media Committee so inaugurated, was the first of its kind in the State, Comrade Ememobong charged members to be alive to their mapped out terms of reference, which include: providing feedback to Government and IbomWASH, Coordinating Media advocacy on WASH related issues and regular mapping of stakeholders of the sector, among others.
In his welcome remarks, the Project Director of IbomWASH+, Prof Gabriel Umoh, applauded the State Government for the signing of a Law to regulate and re-organise the Akwa Ibom State Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Sector.
Prof Umoh expressed optimism that, the state government would hasten the implementation of the policy framework as the USAID-funded WASH programme component is winding-up by 2025. Ibom Wash+ is a non-governmental organisation that partners the state government on improved hygiene and portable water for domestic uses.
In a goodwill message, the Managing Director of Akwa Ibom Water Corporation, Engr. Edo Etuk expressed gratitude to Governor Udom Emmanuel for granting assent to the WASH Sector Bill, and hinted that, with the law on ground, the gray areas in the Sector will be looked into towards improving on water resources reticulation to meet the needs of the teeming people of the state.
A 7-member Ibom WASH Media Executive Committee which was innuagurated by the Information and Strategy, has Harrison Emmanuel of the Print Media as Chairman and Ima Dem of the Electronics, as Secretary.
Others included: Ajie Nelson as Vice Chairman, Theresa Don – Assistant Secretary and Victor Essang as the Public Relations Officer. Joan Imaisong of the IbomWASH+ Cluster and Mrs Grace Akpan of the State Ministry of Information and Strategy were to serve as members, in Advisory capacity.
