The Katsina State Government, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has launched a five-day intensive training programme on Fecal Sludge Management (FSM) to strengthen the state’s effort in maintaining its Open Defecation Free (ODF) status.
The training, which is being coordinated through the Katsina State Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), is designed to equip participants with practical skills and technical knowledge on the safe evacuation, treatment, and disposal of human waste. Beneficiaries were drawn from Rimi, Batagarawa, and Katsina Local Government Areas.
In her address, Dr. Stella Okafor-Terver, WASH Programme Officer at UNICEF’s Kano Field Office, commended the state for achieving the feat of being declared the second ODF state in Nigeria, after Jigawa.
She explained that the exercise was intended to help the state sustain its newly acquired status while prioritising the health and safety of sanitation workers.
According to her, before the training, many operators handled fecal waste manually and without any protective equipment, exposing themselves to severe occupational hazards.
“The training will tackle these challenges head-on by providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and clear operational guidelines to promote hygienic and environmentally safe practices. The training is also not just about skills, but dignity, safety, and sustainability. Guidelines for the FSM are now being finalised, with government commitment to operationalise them across the state,” she said.
Dr. Okafor-Terver further revealed that, for the first time, the state government had issued certificates to trained FSM practitioners and developed an official database to monitor their activities.
She added that this initiative introduces a new level of professionalism into a sector that was previously unregulated, ensuring both accountability and standardisation.
“Similarly, UNICEF through the state’s Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), has trained toilet business owners, focusing on ‘Climate-Resilient Toilet Technologies and Sanitation Marketing Strategies’,” she said.
According to her, the programme exposed sanitation entrepreneurs to different toilet models adaptable to local conditions, enabling them to promote improved toilet options for households and public institutions.
“By strengthening the sanitation business ecosystem, the initiative aims to create jobs while ensuring that improved toilet options are accessible and affordable for all,” she added.
Also speaking, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at RUWASSA and UNICEF Focal Person, disclosed that plans were already underway to expand the training to other local government areas of the state.
He noted that about 95 participants were currently benefiting from the ongoing exercise, which is expected to significantly improve sanitation practices and reinforce the gains of the ODF campaign across Katsina State.
