By Azuka Offor
Anambra state has refined its local investment plan for the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector following a validation workshop organised by Anambra State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (ANA-RUWASSA) and Anambra State Ministry of Power and Water Resources in collaboration with Teamwork Global Associates, Consultants appointed by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation (FMWR&S) under the African Development Bank (AfDB) Funded Inclusive Basic Services Delivery and Livelihood Empowerment Integrated Program (IBSDLEIP) Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Component.
The workshop, held on July 23rd and 24th, 2026 in Awka, focused on validating WASH baseline data collected by state RUWASSA and LGA WASH staff earlier in the year in 20 rural LGAs of the state and strengthening institutional planning for equitable WASH development across communities.
In remarks delivered on behalf of the Commissioner for Ministry of Power and Water Resources, Engr. Casmir Chinenye Agummadu; the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Victor Ezekwo, emphasised the importance of accurate and reliable data in driving effective development planning.
Ezekwo expressed appreciation to the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, the African Development Bank and Teamwork Global Associates for their support towards ensuring equitable distribution of resources and improved WASH services across communities.
The Programme Manager of RUWASSA, Mr. Tochukwu Nwosu, identified the importance of sustainability plans in ensuring the continuous behavioural change in members of communities in the state as poor sustainability and inadequate maintenance culture are the major challenges responsible for abandonment of some water facilities, advocating the establishment of WASH committees (WASHComs) in every community with appropriate accommodation provided for their operation.
Speaking at the event, the WASH Expert, Engr. Dr. Mike Nwude, described water as fundamental to life and critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly targets 6.1 and 6.2, which focus on universal access to safe and affordable water and sanitation.
Dr. Nwude urged local government chairmen to advocate for the upgrade of WASH units to full departments to facilitate improved budgetary allocations and accelerate efforts towards achieving the 2030 development targets.
He stressed that the accurate data gathered and validated by Anambra indigenes familiar with the communities, was essential for effective sanitation planning and the equitable distribution of government resources. He also stated that it is imperative for the Anambra State Government to intensify its engagement efforts to attract international donor agencies, ensuring their active participation and investment in the state’s emerging Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) innovations.
Among other highlights, the workshop featured presentations and validation of baseline data, discussions, corrections and validation exercises, as well as local government institutional diagnostics.
The highpoint was the adoption of the validated data as a working document, subject to necessary corrections, followed by a question-and-answer session and group photograph.
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Azuka is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Awka.
