WORLD TOILET DAY 2025: FCTA, CSHEEH COMMISSION UPGRADED WASH FACILITIES AT MODEL PRIMARY SCHOOL, APO
By: Prudence Okonna and Fatima Muhammad
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), in collaboration with the Centre for School Health Education and Environmental Hygiene (CSHEEH), has commissioned newly upgraded Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities at Model Primary School, Apo Legislative Quarters.
The Executive Chairman of the FCT Universal Basic Education Board (FCTUBEB), Dr Alhassan Sule, commissioned the facilities during an event organised by CSHEEH to commemorate the 2025 World Toilet Day on Thursday, November 27, 2025.
He hailed CSHEEH for renovating the toilet facilities and their long-standing dedication to improving school sanitation across the FCT
The Chairman, who was represented by the Deputy Director of School Health, FCT-UBEB, Baba Aboki, noted that the organisation’s interventions have consistently impacted pupils and communities positively.
In his words: “Executive Director CSHEEH, Dr. Folashade Momoh has touched our lives not just today but for a long while now.”
He further assured that the Board, through its Works Department, would continue to support the school, including addressing challenges.
In her remarks, Executive Director CSHEEH, Dr. Folashade Momoh, highlighted the global relevance of this year’s World Toilet Day theme, “Sanitation in a Changing World We’ll Always Need Toilets.”
The retired Director of FCTA’s Public Health Department noted that, despite population pressures, ageing infrastructure and the impacts of climate change, safe sanitation remains a basic human right essential for public health, dignity and environmental protection.
Dr Momoh expressed pride in the renovated toilet facilities, describing them as a model for strengthening school hygiene.
She urged the school community, teachers, and pupils to take ownership of the facilities by using them responsibly and ensuring continuous maintenance.
Also speaking, one of the partners, a representative of The Leprosy Mission Nigeria (TLMN), Dr Utane Adama, expressed delight at joining the event, describing access to sanitation as a basic human right, not a privilege.
She applauded CSHEEH for its commitment to promoting dignity and public health in schools.
Giving a health talk, Deputy Director, Environmental Health Services, Public Health Department, Ojo Adewale, educated the pupils and teachers on the dangers of open defecation.
He emphasized that toilets are crucial for preventing cholera, safeguarding public health, and protecting water systems from contamination.
The Environmental Hygiene Expert, while calling for responsible use of the facilities, outlined proper toilet-use practices, including flushing the toilet after use, wiping the edges clean, and avoiding flushing hard paper or sanitary pads.
Adewale also reminded teachers of their roles in supervising pupils, providing hygiene essentials, modelling proper behaviour, and ensuring a safe environment.
He further encouraged the pupils to practise good hygiene, especially handwashing, dispose of waste properly, report misuse, and avoid defecating in the bush.
The Head teacher of Model Primary School, Apo Legislative Quarters, Dupe Lawal, while appreciating CSHEEH for donating the modernised facility and an additional water system, highlighted how the previous state of the toilets affected pupils’ comfort, safety, and learning.
Abuja Digest reports that World Toilet Day is commemorated annually on November 19, annually, and CSHEEH in order to mark the day renovated seven toilets, including four for students and three for teachers.
CSHEEH also renovated the tap-and-dump sites and donated cleaning materials to the school to support proper upkeep.
Also present at the event were representatives of the police force, the Fire service, and the chief imam of Apo Legislative Quarters.
