Open defecation: Cashew coy donates toilet facilities in Kwara
Emmanuel kehinde,Ilorin
Olam Food Ingredients (Ofi), a cashew manufacturing company in Kwara, on Wednesday donated a block of six ultra modern toilets to Ansarul Islam Community School in Aboto-Oja in Asa local government area.
Speaking during the inauguration of the school project, Mr. Rajeesh Neelanjeri,
the General Manager of the company, is committed to improving the general wellbeing of farmers in Kwara.
Neelanjeri, who was represented by Alhaji Idris Ajibade, an executive of the company explained that the Agro company will continue to reachout to
the farming communities in its supply chain through its key focus at boosting the nutrition and health factors.
“Through consistent partnerships, we work with communities to help meet health and nutrition needs throughout the year.
“This is in line with our sustainability goals and the cashew trail target which is reflected in the slogan “Promoting good health and wellbeing through provision of clean water and implementation of proper sanitary conditions.
“Today, more than ever, it is essential to implement tools to ensure equitable sanitation and hygiene and paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations in these communities and this is a key focal point for the Ofi Family”, he said.
The manager said that the firm is committed to maintaining stronger partnership ties and hopefully build new relationships with both existing stakeholders and new ones in a bid to make society a more sustainable positive environment.
Also speaking, Malam Kasali Yakub, the Community Head and the Alangua of Aboto, commended the Ofi for the project, while also appealing for the assistance of the company to intervene in over one year absence of electricity supply in the area.
The Alangua, submitted that the community had suffered socioeconomic impact due to lack of electricity.
He called on the company to establish industry at Aboto-Oja community because of presence of lots of cashew production in the community.
In her goodwill message, Mrs. Fabiyi Bukola, the representative of the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) unit of the Public Health in the state Kwara Ministry of Health, said that the toilet project is capable of checking open defecation in the area.
She enjoined the members of the community, especially the school to maintain it for improved hygiene.
In his welcome address, the school principal, Mr Bello Olatunji, explained that the project would meet the need of the students, who were erstwhile using surrounding bushes to ease themselves in the face of the ravaging kidnapping cases.
He, however, enjoined the company to assist with borehole, “to further reduce difficulties in searching for water and for effective use of the toilet”.
He noted that the project would enhance effective teaching and learning process.
Bello assured that the company’s name would forever remain in the minds of the students and the villagers.
“Your love shall continue to be fresh in the minds of staff and students as much as the toilet is put into use,”he said.
The head, Transition Implementation Committee (TIC), Asa local government, Abdulganiyu Atunebise, commended the company, saying that the project will check diseases caused by open defecation including; cholera, dysentery, typhoid and intestinal worms among students, teachers and the community.
He, however, implored the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the facility.
