By; SANI ALIYU, Zaria
The Centre for Water and Environment Development (CWED) in collaboration with the National Water Resource Capacity Building Network Centre has donated Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Library for Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria.
Director CWED, Engineer Musa Nimrod, during e-WASH Library sensitization workshop in Zaria, said the initiative is to enhance research and promote awareness in WASH related fields.
Nimrod, represented by Dr. Ayo Medubi, an environmental expert, said the library would serve as a resource centre for staff, students and members of the university.
He added that the library would be equipped with electronic and hardcopy material to support research and learning in WASH related disciplines.
“We want Nigeria to be known as the cleanest capital globally; we need to put Nigeria away from negative statistics on WASH that is why we were on this project.
“We also observed that the academics were not pushing adequate weight on WASH initiatives and the basics of academic inputs was to have some research centres hence the project,’’ he said.
In his remarks, Prof. Donatus Adie, Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering of the university, said the project is the first dedicated WASH library in Africa.
He added that the National Committee on WASH was alarmed over poor indices on open defecation and other WASH related challenges.
Adie, who is also the North West Coordinator, National Water Resource Capacity Building Network Centre said the national action plan on WASH recognises the need to have more experts on WASH from tertiary institutions.
Adding that six universities, one from each geopolitical zone of Nigeria was asked to start a WASH programme stressing that in the northwest ABU was recommended for the programme.
“One of the infrastructural needs for such a programme was a library, even though the programme has not started, it is good to have the facility on the ground hence the project,’’ Adie said.
However, Adie said plans have reached an advanced stage for ABU to start a Bachelor of Science programme on WASH by the next academic session and the programme would be domiciled at the Department of Microbiology.
Malam Sulaiman Kadana, Society for Water and Sanitation in Nigeria (NEWSAN), Kaduna State Chapter said the society would also partner with the University (ABU) on waste and sanitation activities, adding that the e-WASH library would strengthen their activities.
Earlier in his welcome address, ABU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kabiru Bala commended the group for the project at the University and tasked the alumni of the university to give back to their Alma mata
