By Fatima Saka
The Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation on Wednesday led Nigeria in joining the rest of the world to commemorate the 2025 Global Handwashing Day under the theme “Be a Handwashing Hero.” The annual United Nations backed event promotes hand hygiene and raises awareness of its vital role in preventing diseases and saving lives.
The national commemoration, held in Abuja, was organized by the Ministry in collaboration with the National Task Group on Sanitation. The Honourable Minister, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, FNSE, emphasized that simple actions such as washing hands with soap at critical times remain among the most effective and affordable ways to prevent diseases and safeguard public health.
In a statement signed by Mrs. Funmi Imuetinyan, Director of Information and Public Relations, the Minister called on Nigerians to take both personal and collective responsibility for promoting hygiene practices that ensure healthier communities.
He noted that this year’s theme signifies a shift from mere awareness to active participation, urging citizens, policymakers, and development partners to become true champions of hygiene.
Prof. Utsev reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening hygiene, sanitation, and water access through key initiatives such as the National Action Plan for the Revitalization of the WASH Sector, the Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet Campaign, the Partnership for Expanded Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (PEWASH), and the Sustainable Urban and Rural WASH (SURWASH) project.
He disclosed that the Ministry is revising the National Action Plan to include a dedicated hygiene component, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to implementing the Nigeria Roadmap to Hand Hygiene for All. The Minister also urged schools, health facilities, and workplaces to strengthen hand hygiene through improved infrastructure, sustained behavioral change campaigns, and inclusive access for all, including persons with disabilities.
Prof. Utsev commended development partners such as Reckitt, UNICEF, WaterAid, Action Against Hunger, Sightsavers, and Self Help Africa for their continued collaboration in achieving SDG 6 on Clean Water and Sanitation, while urging the private sector to invest more in hygiene and sanitation to drive innovation and sustainability in the WASH sector.
He further enjoined Nigerians to become “Handwashing Heroes”, noting that “a child spared from disease today is a future empowered, and a community that upholds hygiene is one with dignity.”
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Mr. Richard Pheelangwah, represented by Mr. Moses Jo-Madugu, Director of Reform Coordination and Service Improvement, welcomed participants and stressed that collective action and behavioral change are key to making handwashing with soap a daily habit for improved public health and a healthier nation.
Goodwill messages from representatives of UNICEF, Reckitt, and the Network of WASH in Nigeria (NEWSAN) underscored the importance of communication and collaboration in preventing diseases through hand hygiene. They emphasized that achieving universal hand hygiene requires coordinated efforts from all stakeholders.
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The event featured representatives of the Honourable Minister of Environment, key WASH stakeholders, and students who participated in educational and interactive activities promoting hygiene awareness.
The celebration concluded with the presentation of prizes to winners of the Handwashing Art and Graphics Competition, followed by a symbolic handwashing demonstration by dignitaries and participants, reaffirming Nigeria’s collective commitment to hygiene promotion and public health.
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