As part of events to mark the 2020 World Water Day, the Osisioma Foundation, a non-governmental organization concerned with the availability and distribution of clean and fresh water for consumption, last Monday, has hosted a public lecture and sensitization programme. In addition, they also joined in the fight against the recent pandemic Corona virus.
Highpoint of the event which held at the Professor Kenneth Dike e-Library, Awka, was the distribution of handwashing buckets to the five schools in attendance to the event. The schools included: Unizik High School; Girls Secondary School, Amenyi; Igwebuike Grammar School; Golden Crown International Academy and St. John of God Secondary School.
The CEO and Founder, Osisioma Foundation, Prince Dr. Onyeka Eze, who was represented by his Media Aide, Barrister Nnaemeka Obitube, in his address of welcome, noted that the celebration focused on the importance of fresh water in the lives of humans, and its essential roles in the climate.
He decried that persons living globally without access to safe and clean water numbered 2.2 billion, and added that the foundation was taking action in support of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.
Prince Eze also said the foundation was taking serious action in tackling water crisis and most importantly, a campaign against the Corona Virus which he described as emergency. He added that they were creating more awareness on the importance of handwashing, describing it as very important in containing the Covid-19 pandemic.
While he noted that the day’s celebration was aimed at teaching people, especially, young ones, the importance of water to the system and also launch a campaign against Covid-19, he said the foundation before now, had been able to donate boreholes to schools and communities, in Nigeria, as well as some institutions outside Nigeria.
Subsequently, in a lecture delivered by Mrs. Doris ChiomaIwu, titled, “Water”, she explained that water was also a class of food. She also described the characteristics of water which included, tastelessness, colourless and odourless.
While she named some of the sources of water which she classified into safe and unsafe, Mrs. Iwu said that water could be cleaned and recycled for drinking, and added that it was important to both man and animals in several ways.
She concluded her lecture in a detailed explanation of how to protect and conserve water instead of polluting it.
Also, a Nurse, Amarachukwu Nguba delivered a talk on the pandemic Corona Virus, lending her voice on ways of contamination, symptoms, as well as precautionary measures that could be taken to avoid its contraction and spreading.
Similarly, in the opening mately lead to mortality.remarks by the Chairman of the occasion and Director, Professor Kenneth Dike e-Library, Dr. Nkechi Udeze, she noted that the commemoration of the World Water Day which was observed on the 22nd of March, started in 1993. She added that water was life and without it, one could get dehydrated which could ultimately lead to mortality.
She talked on this year’s theme, “Water and Climate”. She pointed out that water and climate were two important things that placed the world where it was today because of mismanagement of these elements.
The Director, while thanking Prince Osisioma Foundation for organizing the event, urged that everyone should take precaution, and added that anything that would help children was important.
She expressed her belief that when a child was captured at a tender age to imbibe cultures such as reading and washing of their hands, it was easier to learn. She also said that though the number of children in attendance was small, there would be ripple effect as they would go back to reach out to others.
Meanwhile, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, Public Utilities, Engineer Victor Metu in his address before the handing over of handwashing buckets and sanitizers to the schools in attendance, appreciated the Osisioma Foundation for what he described as an initiative in the right direction which was worth emulating. He noted that the state needed more of such events which would help everyone, especially at the critical time of Covid-19.
He added that the foundation had his support and that of the government, as well as advocated that in subsequent organization of the event, more students should be invited.
While noting that the state governor was a leader who thrived on inclusiveness, he also asked that subsequent events of such value and magnitude be hosted in the most conducive of places, as it was difficult for persons living with some form of disabilities found it difficult to use stairs and added that it was a deterrent for many of them who would have loved to be in attendance to the event.
The SSA to the governor who thanked the Director, Professor Kenneth Dike e-Library, Dr.Udeze, as well as the students who he said defied turbulence to be in attendance to the event, also noted that the problem and paucity of water which the United Nations said was prevalent in Africa and Asia, persisted because its management was left solely in the hands of the government and urged everyone to join in the business of water.
He added that the unavailability of water increased the risk of contracting the Covid-19, but assured that the state government would in a short time, launch privatization programmes to allow private organisations manage water resources in the state which would make clean and potable water available to every community in the state.
Adding that there was no known cure for the pandemic Corona Virus yet, he advised that water was needed immensely for washing of hands and that the culture of handwashing with soap or use of alcohol based sanitizer be imbibed.
While the special guests took turns to talk to the students, The Managing Director, Anambra Broadcasting Services, Chief Uche Nworah, represented by Oluchi Kanu, told them to be cautious of the sources where they access news and also tell their parents what they had learned in the course of the programme.
Delivering a vote of thanks, Prince Eze urged the schools to maintain a culture of constantly using the materials delivered to them. He added that the foundation could come around the schools anytime to replace the sanitizers and also monitor the level of implementation of the measures to curtail spread of Covid-19.
The event which also had in audience, Abuja based member of the foundation, Honourable Colonel Ilobuokolobia, Research Assistant, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Mr. Kosi Nnadozie and a host of press men and women.
