A five-room water system toilet has been reconstructed at Community Secondary School, Igbakwu in Ayamelum Local Government Area of Anambra State, by a corps member serving in the school, Mr Charles Akhabua.
The project was executed as the corps member’s personal Community Development Service, CDS project.
Community Development Service, CDS projects are initiatives designed under the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC scheme, to encourage corps members to attract projects that will help develop their host communities or places of primary assignment.
Speaking during the handover of the project over the weekend, the Delta State-born Corps Member said the dilapidated and abandoned toilets in the school, resulting in students’ use of open space informed his decision to embark on the project.
“I was motivated to embark on the project because the existing one in the school was dilapidated and abandoned.
“This has made most of the students engage in open defecation as an alternative for easing themselves.
“CDS, we were taught emphasizes the need for corps members to identify the needs of their host communities and make efforts towards addressing them.
“Open defecation poses a great danger to the health of the community and personal hygiene of the students and children in the community. So, I decided to mobilize funds to undertake this project, as my way of assisting the Igbakwu community to overcome this serious health challenge,” he explained.
Akhabua thanked the Principal of the school, community leaders, and other philanthropists for funding the project.
Commissioning the project, the State Coordinator, NYSC Anambra, Mrs Blessing Ekene Iruma described the structure as a star project and enjoined the students to make proper use of the facility.
Iruma, represented by the Awka Zonal Inspector, Mr. Ferdinand Anya, called on other Corps Members to strive to leave legacies behind in their Places of Primary Assignments by executing similar projects.
On his part, the President General, of Igbakwu Town Union, Chief Gilbert Dieli prayed for the Corps Member and wished him well in his future endeavors.
