Participants at the 2024 Toilet Business Owners (TBOs) Conference have called on relevant stakeholders and the sanitation authorities to intensify awareness against certain cultural beliefs on toilet use, synergize, as well as liaise with micro finance institutions to grant soft loans to TBOs for optimal performance.
Speaking with The Voice after a two-day conference, held at the Smile View Hotel, Makurdi, Thursday, Mrs Mary Odeh, a participant from Ado Local Government, commended the organizers of the conference, adding that it was timely.
“The conference is well organized, and all the TBOs are from the grass roots, showing that the LGAs will be effectively impacted in order to improve toilet management and usage at the local governments, and an extend help to attain the state wide Open Defecation Free (ODF) by 2030″.
She advised the organizers to do more by liaising with the micro finance banks to assist TBOs with soft loans, to enable them achieve their goal, revealing that though Ado Local Government has attained ODF, the need for sustainability was key, hence the area that would be worked on after the conference.
A Toilet Business Owner (TBO), Mr Luper Uneneh from Katsina Ala LGA, appreciated the knowledge he has gained from the programme on ways to improve his toilet business, but complained of the non-availability of the Sato pans or stools in the market, limited finance to sustain the business and poor attitude of toilet use by most people and the unwillingness to change as some of the challenges.
He explained that, the Sato pans or stools type of toilets was a new plastic invention, very comfortable, affordable, infection free, as it prevents heat, flies, economical in terms of water, and needs just a small space for construction.
Mr Akure Hangeor, a community mobiliser from Vandeikya LGA, said the programme was timely. “Our towns and villages have become infected for too long, a sensitization programme as this is timely, I feel grateful because our environments and communities will be cleared of excessive mess”, he said
He promised to mobilise and sensitize the people in his LGA, on the importance of toilet use, especially the youths who are usually aggrieved when such programmes is embarked on in the community, but encourage them to embrace the change for a healthier living.
Also in a discussion panel, panelists Mary Isacc, Ag. Head of Department, Public Health, BenSESA; Mr Sunday Agbehi, Sanitation Marketing Desk officer and assistant Sanitation officer, BERWASSA; representative of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Mr Chibuike and Mr. Joseph Yakubu, a public toilet proprietor all suggested a collaborative synergy among all the relevant sectors in sanitation business and accessibility to finances in order to achieve the tasks ahead.
Also, during the discussion session, it was revealed that construction of 1, 284 toilets and 687 sold toilet products, successful training of 97 TBOs in 16 LGAs were achieved by BERWASSA. An appeal was made for the provision of faeces treatment plants by BenSESA to avoid further health hazards to people who live close to dump sites.
The Benue State facilitator of UNICEF, Joy James, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and clean Nigeria toilet campaign representative, Chibuike John; Director General, Bureau of International Cooperation and Development, Mr Leonard Aondowase among others unanimously lauded the programme and pledged to work hard in order to improve the toilet and waste business, considering how lucrative it can be.
Highlights of the programme was award presentation to four outstanding TBOs, display of toilets products, formation of action plan technical groups on “Strengthening marketing collaterals and IEC materials for ODF by Mr Joshua Gwaza and Abdul-Sallam among others.
Slogans like: “I can restore your dignity, get a toilet now,” “Toilet or shit business, is good business saving lives and money” were echoed throughout the conference.
