The Lagos State Government has called for increased collective efforts to address sanitation challenges in schools, stressing that collaboration between stakeholders is vital for achieving sustainable infrastructure and hygiene standards. Speaking during the Stakeholders Interactive Session on School Sanitation held in Lagos, Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, emphasized that improved sanitation practices are key to fostering a healthy learning environment for students.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of Environmental Services, Dr. Gaji Omobolaji, Wahab urged stakeholders, including corporate bodies, parents, and non-governmental organizations, to mobilize resources and address the current gaps in sanitation infrastructure across schools in the metropolis. He highlighted the importance of creating clean and conducive environments in schools to ensure the overall well-being and development of children.
Wahab further stressed that inadequate sanitation facilities can become significant barriers to education, especially for vulnerable children, and called for urgent action to ensure no child is left behind. He cited the success rate of school sanitation assessments, which improved from 10% in 2021 to 65% in 2023 through efforts coordinated with the Office of Education Quality Assurance.
As part of the event’s theme, “Embracing Sanitation and Hygiene Behavior in Schools in Lagos State,” Wahab noted that schools play a crucial role in shaping values and attitudes and emphasized that good sanitation practices benefit not just students but their families and the broader community.
