Self Help Africa – The Trumpet Newspaper Nigeria

Self Help Africa has announced significant achievements under its two-year WASH Systems for Health (WS4H) Programme in Kano State, revealing that more than 187,000 people have gained access to safe water while urging stronger partnerships to sustain and expand water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions across the state.

Key Highlights:

• Self Help Africa says over 187,000 people now have improved access to safe water.
• WS4H Programme rehabilitated 51 solar-powered boreholes in Kano and Cross River states.
• More than 12,600 household toilets constructed in Makoda LGA, benefiting over 151,000 residents.
• 50 sanitation entrepreneurs received N35 million to expand their businesses.
• Kano’s 2026 WASH budget increased by 169.07% following policy and financing reforms.
• Stakeholders call for stronger collaboration to sustain WASH investments after donor support ends.

The organisation disclosed the achievements during its Bi-Annual Stakeholder Engagement Meeting in Kano, where government officials, development partners, private sector representatives and community leaders reviewed ongoing interventions and explored strategies to strengthen water, sanitation and hygiene services across the state.

Speaking at the meeting, Hajara Muhammad, Head of Office, Kano, said the engagement was designed to promote transparency, accountability and stronger partnerships across the organisation’s development programmes.

She noted that Self Help Africa currently implements projects in 11 of Kano State’s 44 local government areas, stressing that closer collaboration among ministries, departments and agencies, local governments and host communities is critical to expanding the programme’s impact.

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The organisation’s Sanitation and Partnership Advisor, Ezekiel Sukumun, said the UK Government-funded WASH Systems for Health (WS4H) Programme has restored or improved access to safe water for 187,575 people through the rehabilitation of 51 solar-powered boreholes across Kano and Cross River states.

He added that the programme also facilitated the construction of 12,642 improved household toilets in Makoda Local Government Area, providing improved sanitation for more than 151,000 residents.

According to Sukumun, the initiative also supported economic empowerment by providing N35 million to 50 sanitation entrepreneurs, enabling them to expand their businesses while improving access to sanitation services.

Beyond infrastructure, he explained that the programme has strengthened governance by supporting the review of Kano State’s WASH Policy, developing a sustainable WASH financing strategy and a rural water sustainability model, while contributing to a 169.07 per cent increase in the state’s 2026 WASH budget.

Programme Coordinator for WS4H, Aminu Idris, said the stakeholder engagement would enhance service delivery by promoting stronger collaboration between government agencies, communities and development partners.

Also speaking, Mustapha Hassan, WASH Desk Officer at the Kano State Ministry of Water Resources, urged the state government to formally adopt the WASH Sustainability Plan developed by Self Help Africa to ensure long-term maintenance of projects after the programme concludes in Makoda.

Similarly, the Director of Planning and Community Mobilisation at the Kano State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Musa Gambo, assured stakeholders that the state government remains committed to sustaining donor-supported WASH initiatives beyond the exit of development partners.