By: Julian Osamoto
Stakeholders have called for urgent action to improve access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities in schools across Africa, warning that poor hygiene infrastructure and insecurity continue to threaten children’s health, education and future prospects.
The call was made during the 2026 Day of the African Child celebration at Federal Government Boys College, Wuye, Abuja, themed: “Ensuring Universal Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Every Child in Africa.”
Personal Hygiene
The guest speaker for the Federal Government Boys College, Wuye, Oby Ezielo, urged children to embrace personal hygiene and remain committed to their education.
According to her, children must become ambassadors of cleanliness by maintaining good hygiene practices at home and in school.
“Children should be clean. They should wash their hands. They should take their bath. They should all equally stay in school. It’s not only about clean water; they should equally stay in school, finish their education, and make the society and their parents proud,” she said.
Welfare Support
Earlier, the Principal of the college, Joshua Ogunshina, said the commemoration was designed to highlight the challenges confronting African children and mobilise support for their welfare.
He expressed concern over the growing impact of insecurity on children’s education, noting that banditry and insurgency have become major threats to learners across parts of Nigeria.
“This celebration is for sensitisation to the plight of the African child. Among the challenges we have mentioned are banditry and insurgency facing children now, especially in schools. We are no longer talking about apartheid in South Africa; the Nigerian factor is now here,” Ogunshina stated.
NGO, Government Partnership
Also speaking, the Executive Director of De-Prime Initiative for the Advancement of Civil Liberty and Civic Duty, Dr. Chinwe Ogbuka, called on non-governmental organisations and development partners to complement government efforts by providing water and sanitation facilities in schools.
She noted that while governments are making efforts, additional support is needed to ensure every child has access to basic amenities.
“In some schools, NGOs come around to dig boreholes as part of their corporate social responsibility. It is to augment what government is doing. We are appealing to other NGOs that can support to come and ensure these amenities are provided for our children and their future,” she said.
Safe Water
A member of the Science and Medical Advisory Board, David Nwanchi, underscored the importance of safe water, warning that contaminated water poses serious health risks to children.
“The issue of water is critical. Water is even greater than food because food is prepared with water, and if the water is contaminated, definitely you are going to have food poisoning,” Nwanchi said.
On her part, the President of Women Inspire Africa, Tina Kenechukwu, urged African children to take pride in their identity while embracing healthy hygiene habits.
“It is an opportunity to remind children that they should be comfortable as black children and African children wherever they find themselves. They should also recognise that hygiene is very important for their health and well-being,” she said.
Stakeholders at the event agreed that improved access to water, sanitation and hygiene services remains essential to protecting children from preventable diseases, enhancing learning outcomes and securing a healthier future for Africa’s next generation.
The event, brought together educators, health advocates and civil society organisations to advocate policies and interventions that will improve the well-being of children across the continent.
