Elation As KWASU Students Unveil Developmental CLTS Project For Ogun Community

Yesterday, May 21, 2021, relief and succour came to Abba Fowoseje community and Abba Yellow Community in Ogun State following the commissioning of five toilet facilities under the aegis of the Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) facilitated by final year students of Kwara State University (KWASU), Ogun State study centre.

The Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) project is a mandatory social responsibility project for students of the institution, particularly aimed at tackling the menace of open defecation and other related poor sanitation practices.

The commissioning of the project was a culmination of months of arduous work on the part of students and coordinators who had to weather several storms to make the project a reality.

Speaking in an interview with Eko Hot Blog during the commissioning, the coordinator, Kwara State University (KWASU), Ogun State College of Health Tech Centre, Dr. Niyi Opasola, stated that the operational philosophy of Kwara State University (KWASU) has always been premised upon community service/development.

“We are here to do the commissioning of the toilets that were built by our students as part of their contribution to the community, knowing fully well that Kwara State University (KWASU) is a University for community development. We always like to make an impact in any community that is not far from our radius,” he said.

He also noted that prior to this development, KWASU students have been responsible for facilitating similar projects across all six geo-political zones in the country.

“Throughout the country, our students have built about 121 toilets in all the six geo-political zones.”

“Because of this community-based programme that our department always embarks on, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources have appointed three of us into the open defecation free committee, and this project has been making maximum impact in making our environment free of open defecation,” he added.

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Also speaking, the finance director of the CLTS project, San. Fasinu Felix, noted that the project constitutes a basic requirement for the award of a Bachelor of Environmental Health Science.

“The project is part of the modalities for the award of Bachelor of Environmental Health Science in Kwara State University (KWASU). It is part of the modalities before you can graduate.”

Fasinu further harped on the pertinence of involving the community and how sensitising them on the need to jettison the practice of open defecation paved way for the project to become reality.

“The project is a Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS), so whatever we have to do, we have to involve the community. We joined hands together to use what they have in the community to build a befitting toilet for them. Part of what we did was to trigger the community to know the importance of what we’re coming to do,” he stated.

Adedokun Oyepero, the general coordinator of the project, described the process of actualising the task as a “herculean” one, citing the daunting challenges that they had to surmount before realising the project.

“The construction of the project was more like a herculean task that we had to accomplish. We had to visit the community to be sure that its in conformity with the objectives of the Community-Led Total Sanitation. We stipulate that it has to be a community of between 90 and 120 residents. So we had to look around for a suitable community and eventually, we got this community. Known as Abba Fowoseje.”

“At the end of the day, we got a piece of land from the community. It was more like a participation between Kwara State University (KWASU), 400 Level students and the community members of Abba Fowoseje.”

She also expressed optimism that due to the orientation given to the beneficiaries, members of the community would band together to ensure the sustainability of the project.

“We’ve educated them on the need to take care of the toilet facilities. We have handed over to the Baale who has assured us that when we come back for our monitoring and evaluation, we will not be disappointed.”

Reacting to the development, Femi Adeyemi, the Baale of the community, was full of praise for the initiative.

Adeyemi said the project was the first of its kind in the community, which has been suffering from the scourge of open defecation for a long period of time.

“This is the first time in history and it’s basically the reason why I’m in support of this. I don’t want it to leave my care,” the Baale said.

He prayed for the institution’s growth, and also exercised hope that the project would be replicated in the surrounding and outlying communities.

“I want other communities to be beneficiaries too. This is an example. With this, no visitor will have any problem as regards using a restroom. But it still needs water supply. It’s very important for us to manage it.

Notable officials of the University present were: Prof Sunday Awe, Director of CEERMS KWASU and all affiliation centres; Dr Niyi Opasola, Coordinator, KWASU-Ilese Centre; Dr Adiama, Assistant Coordinator, KWASU-Ilese Centre;  Dr Ogunyanwo, Director, KWASU-Ilese Centre; Dr Adegoke, KWASU-Ilese Centre; Mr Kenny Admin Officer, KWASU-Ilese Centre.

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