The Blue Community Ecumenical Water Network (EWN) Africa, in collaboration with the global Blue Community World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Water Network and Norwegian Church Aid, hosted a hybrid workshop in Abuja, Nigeria, to mark World Toilet Day 2024. The event, themed “Toilets—A Place for Peace,” highlighted sanitation’s vital role in promoting health, dignity, and harmony across communities.
In his opening remarks, Dinesh Suna, WCC programme executive for Land, Water, and Food Advocacy, underscored the gravity of the global sanitation crisis. “Nearly half of the world’s population lacks access to safe and dignified sanitation. This affects human safety, dignity, and particularly the privacy of women and girls who face humiliation and shame,” he said. Suna called on faith leaders to speak out against sanitation inequalities, noting that “life in its fullness, promised by Jesus, will not be fulfilled unless sanitation for all becomes a reality.”
The workshop also featured presentations by Rev. Dr Ibrahim Yusuf Wushishi, WCC programme executive for Peacebuilding in Africa and coordinator of the WCC Africa Regional Programme Office in Abuja, Nigeria; and Vr. Kolade Fadahunsi, coordinator of EWN Africa. They emphasized the transformative role of churches in championing sanitation initiatives. Dr Arthur Laigret, program manager of Norwegian Church Aid Nigeria, shared insights into innovations in water, sanitation, and hygiene in Nigeria.
Participants from Switzerland, Kenya, Zambia, and Nigeria engaged in discussions addressing practical strategies for managing toilet waste, making sanitation infrastructure affordable, and fostering collaborations between governments, nongovernmental organizations, and faith-based organizations.
The event concluded with an urgent call to action. Faith-based organizations were encouraged to lead by example and improve their sanitation facilities. Stakeholders were urged to advocate for sustainable sanitation practices. Governments and communities were reminded of the critical role sanitation plays in achieving societal peace and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
