Harpic Reaffirms its Commitment to Partner on an Open Defecation-Free Nigeria at the World Toilet Summit

The purpose of the event was to promote improved sanitation initiatives globally and raise awareness of the problems of open defecation and underinvestment in the sanitation value chain, which have significantly decreased the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Africa over time. Stakeholder leaders from several sectors attended the conference in Abuja, including the Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, as well as honorable Ministers from pertinent Ministries and aid organizations like UNICEF and WaterAid. Harpic Reaffirms its Commitment to Partner on an Open Defecation-Free Nigeria at the World Toilet Summit Professor Yemi Osinbajo, vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Engineer Suleiman Hussein Adamu, minister of water resources; and Professor Jack Sim, founder of the World Toilet Organization, during the World Toilet Summit in 2022. held in Abuja. During a panel discussion on the topic, Partners Perspective on Sanitation Innovations for Economic Development, Marketing Director, Reckitt Sub Saharan Africa, Tanzim Rezwan suggested that Nigeria can convert the challenge of Open defecation into an opportunity and make it an enabler. He said The critical factor is to have everyone across the sanitation sector working together in synergy to achieve the common goal and collectively facilitate the process of bringing it to fruition. He further said We are working with the government in every way we can to achieve zero open defecation in Nigeria. As part of our agenda to continuously drive innovative ideas that will ensure more people have access to clean toilets, we recently introduced a new product, the Harpic Sachet, which has now made it possible for the masses to have access to a clean toilet with just N30. We will also continue to drive awareness and education through our TV and digital communications as well as community programs he concluded. In his address, the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo noted that globally, an estimated two-thirds of people who lack basic access to sanitation services live in rural areas, nearly half of them in Sub-Saharan Africa while 92 percent of the world's population practicing open defecation live in these areas. Explaining the government efforts in the area of sanitation and hygiene, Osinbajo said, As a government, we have consistently affirmed our commitment to the development of the water, sanitation, and hygiene sector, and have demonstrated our aspirations through the many initiatives we have championed, including a coordination platform for private sector organizations working in the wash sector known as the Organized Private Sector in Wash (OPS WASH) to ensure effective coordination of private sector interventions. Director, Sanitation Services Department, Office of Environmental Services, Ministry of the Environment & Water Resources, Dr. Hassan Sanuth; External Communications and Partnerships Lead, Reckitt Sub Saharan Africa, Cassandra Uzo ogbugh Director, Public Utility Sanitation Unit, Sanitation Services Department, Ministry of Environment & Water Resources, Mrs. Ibironke Eyitayo Maidoki and National Coordinator, Organized Private Sector In Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (OPS-WASH), Dr. Nicholas Igwe at the World Toilet Summit 2022 held in Abuja. Harpic has been enhancing the toilet experience and championing proper toilet hygiene in Nigeria, driving awareness of appropriate toilet usage and hygiene through household engagement and community sensitization. The brand has donated over 100 toilet units and refurbished over 10 public toilets in Lagos State since 2016. World Toilet Summit: Harpic Reinstates its Commitment to Partner on Open Defecation-Free Nigeria Also speaking at the summit, the founder of the World Toilet Organization, Professor Jack Sim expressed concern that over 2 million Children and people die of diarrhea every year. Seriously, open defecation is unspoken everywhere and the standard of living of people cannot be improved if the challenge of open defecation is not discussed. The founder, therefore, urged the world to feel free to talk about toilet usage. Feel free to talk about toilets, it is normal. Sim said.