Ona Ara Local Government has achieved a historic milestone as the first certified Open Defecation Free (ODF) LGA in Oyo State, following the successful completion of a rigorous verification exercise across 185 communities in Olorunsogo Ward 9, Oremeji Ward 11, and Gbedun Ward 10. The debriefing meeting, held on Tuesday at Philomaath Arena Hall, Amuloko, brought together key stakeholders as the State Task Group on Sanitation (STGS) presented its assessment report.
Speaking during the session, the Executive Chairman of Ona Ara Local Government expressed profound gratitude to the Executive Governor of Oyo State for his steadfast support, which facilitated the involvement of UNICEF and OYO RUWASSA in advancing the sanitation agenda. He noted that the ODF campaign, launched in 2022, continues to gain strength through the backing of the State Government and development partners.
He also applauded the WASH Coordinator, Sanitarian Popoola R.O., for her unwavering dedication and consistent leadership since the inception of the programme. According to him, her efforts have been central to the remarkable progress made, and the LGA remains committed to sustaining sanitation achievements across all communities.
Verification teams from the STGS presented detailed findings and recommendations to guide the next phase of the process. They commended the commitment of LGA facilitators who have been actively engaging households and community structures. Data from the assessment show significant improvements in sanitation infrastructure, with Olorunsogo Ward recording 2,915 latrines, Oremeji Ward 2,112 latrines, and Gbedun Ward 348 latrines.
In their separate remarks, the Director of Administration, RUWASSA, and the WASH Coordinator applauded the efforts of community facilitators and other stakeholders, urging them to sustain the momentum as Ona Ara LGA advances to the final validation phase of the ODF process.
The meeting concluded on a renewed note of collaboration and commitment among all partners to uphold and sustain the sanitation gains, ensuring that Ona Ara Local Government firmly maintains its Open Defecation Free status.
