The National Commission for UNESCO (NATCOM-UNESCO) and the Federal Ministry of Education have jointly called for significant investment in climate-resilient Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure to promote sustainable practices in Nigerian schools.
Speaking at a workshop in Abuja on Monday themed “The Impact of Climate Change on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Nigerian Educational Institutions”, Director of Educational Planning, Research and Development, Obiajunu Anigbogu, stressed the urgent need to tackle the growing challenges posed by climate change. Anigbogu, represented by Mrs. Juliet Uzor, Director of Educational Planning in the ministry, highlighted the severe impact of climate change and inadequate WASH facilities on students’ health, attendance, and academic performance.
Citing data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Anigbogu noted that countries in the Global South, including Nigeria, are particularly vulnerable to climate-related events such as floods, droughts, and erratic rainfall.
“The importance of WASH services in schools cannot be overstated,” she said. “As climate change threatens the availability of these services, urgent and collective action is needed to ensure every Nigerian child learns in a safe environment.”
She expressed optimism that the workshop would foster inter-sectoral collaboration and lead to practical policy recommendations that will help Nigeria achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. “With just five years left to meet the SDG targets, the time to act is now,” she emphasized.
Secretary-General of NATCOM-UNESCO, Lateef Olagunju, described the workshop as timely and crucial. He stressed the need for coordinated efforts to address the escalating WASH crisis in schools, worsened by climate change.
“Climate change is altering how we access, use, and manage water resources,” he said. “This disruption impacts hygiene and sanitation in schools, increasing the risk of disease, absenteeism, and poor learning outcomes.”
Olagunju added that schools are not just centers of learning but also key community institutions that can lead transformative change. “By integrating sustainability into education and investing in resilient WASH infrastructure, we can equip young people to become agents of change,” he said.
He also emphasized that access to clean water and sanitation is not just a service but a basic human right.
Onyinyechi Livinus, an SS2 student at Government Secondary School, Ushafa, shared the daily challenges students face in accessing water and sanitation. She described the absence of running water in school toilets, forcing students to fetch water from a distant pump shared by the entire school.
“Our handwashing is done using improvised plastic containers with taps. Even our drinking water is fetched from the same pump,” she said.
In contrast, Pascalyn Agbor, an SS1 student at Government Science and Technical College, Area 3, reported better facilities at her school, including flushing toilets, showers, and handwashing stations supported by tanks and dispensers.
“Our school provides sanitary disposal facilities for girls during menstruation. When there's a water shortage, we fetch and store water efficiently,” she explained.
The testimonies highlight the disparity in WASH conditions across schools and the need for equitable, climate-resilient investment nationwide.
ADEOLA KUNLE
