The WSA Observer Mission to the United Nations has launched Africa’s First‑ever Three‑Tier Sanitation Club empowering children, students, and village youth to lead the future of clean water and sanitation in their communities. A new model for SDG 6 in action.
The Permanent Observer of the Observer Mission of the Pan African Intergovernmental Agency on Water and Sanitation for Water for Africa to the United Nations, H.E. Dr Nabhit Kapur, commissioned the Sanitation Clubs noted on the authority and legacy of this ancient community Umunya and Onitsha in Anambra State; the aspirations of children, students, youth, and the global mandate of sustainable development; and declared the WSA Sanitation Club, Umunya Chapter, officially COMMISSIONED. A three-tier WSA Sanitation Club now kicks off with the Umunya Youth Sustainable Network, Ojobi Village for youth; Saint Theresa’s High School, Umunya for students; and Irene Menakaya School, Onitsha for children from early years.
In commissioning the First Ever Three Tier (primary school for children, high school for students, and village for youth) Sanitation Club Anambra State, Nigeria, Dr Kapur noted that WSA is commissioning a movement as a vessel through which the energy, creativity, and moral authority of young people will be channeled into lasting solutions from early years.
The WSA Sanitation Club brings with it the institutional weight of continental Africa and the global platforms of the United Nations, connecting children, students, and youth of Umunya in Anambra State, Nigeria, directly to the world stage of Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation for All.
When we commissioned a sanitation club in Anambra State and the Umunya community, we were not addressing a local problem in isolation.
We are joining a global movement of over 700 million people who still lack access to safe drinking water and 3.6 billion people who lack safely managed sanitation services.
Umunya is Africa’s story on the global agenda for access to clean water and sanitation. Africa’s story is the world’s responsibility.
At the event, the Post United Nations ECOSOC Forum held on the theme “Innovate, Unite, and Transform: Umunya Youth Shaping the Road for Sustainability”” and organized by Bar JUNI and Irene Menakayqa Foundation International, the Sub-Saharan Open University, and global partners reflected the global urgency to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through youth-led innovation, collaboration, and transformative action.
The Forum provides a platform for children, students, young leaders, policymakers, and development partners to exchange ideas, share best practices, and co-create solutions that address emerging global challenges.
The visionary of this initiative, Ambassador Professor Ada JUNI Menakaya, President of Bar JUNI and Irene Menakaya Foundation International and Senior Adviser of the Observer Mission of Water and Sanitation in Africa to the United Nations, echoed the 4Es on Education, Empowerment, Exchange, and Entrepreneur through education on the history and the United Nations journey of the ECOSOC Youth Forum, established in 2012 as a platform for world youth to lend their voices to the agenda of the United Nations on youth, and informed that this event stands as a turning point for Umunya younger generation to be part of the global agenda, by comprehending the United Nations mandate of “Leave No One Behind.” The birth of the Post ECOSOC Youth Forum in Umunya planted the Umunya Youth Sustainable Network, creating opportunities for innovation, transformation, empowerment, exchange, and entrepreneurship in the minds of the community, endearing them to project innovation along the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the WSA Sanitation Club.
Projects from the Villages Based on the Four Pillars
| UMUEBO | Pillar – Youth Entrepreneurship & Economic Empowerment | Topic – Umunya Skilled Acquisition Initiative |
| ISIOYE | Pillar – Cultural, Peacebuilding and Civic Engagement | Topic – Promoting Cultural Tourism for Community Empowerment. |
| AJAKPANA | Pillar – Cultural, Peacebuilding and Civic Engagement | Topic – Empowering Rural Youth Through Cultural Skills & Craft |
| ODUMODU ANA | Pillar – Cultural, Peacebuilding and Civic Engagement | Topic – Peacebuilding Through Sports, Music & Creative Art. |
| UKUNU | Pillar – Youth Entrepreneurship & Economic Empowerment | Topic – Umunya Market Hub Initiative |
| AMAEZIKE | Pillar – Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change. | Topic – Empowering Youth Through Green Entrepreneurship. |
| EZI-UMUNYA | Pillar – Digital Innovation & Skill for the Future | Topic – Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work |
| Ojobi | Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change. | Sanitation |
| OKPU VILLAGE | Pillar – Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change | Topic – Creating Jobs Through Environmental Sustainability |
| ODUMODU ENU | Pillar – Digital Innovation & Skills for the Future | Topic: Digital Marketing Skills for Small Business Growth |
The projects enabled competitions, and five laudable prizes, including supporting cash prizes were provided to 5 best village competitors, as follows:
UMUEBO Village: Pillar: Youth Entrepreneurship & Economic Empowerment-Umunya Skilled Acquisition Initiative
Ojobi Village: Pillar: Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change-Sanitation
UKUNU Village: Pillar: Youth Entrepreneurship & Economic Empowerment-Umunya Marketplace Hub Initiative
AJAKPANA Village: Pillar: Cultural, Peacebuilding and Civic Engagement-Empowering Rural Youth Through Cultural Skills & Craft
ISIOYE Village Pillar: Cultural, Peacebuilding and Civic Engagement -Promoting Cultural Tourism for Community Empowerment.
Prizes for the competition included:
Gold Prize for the Best Village on Umunya Youth Sustainable Network Project Competition
Silver Prize: United Nations ECOSOC Youth Forum- Miss CARICOM Foundation International Silver Prize for the Best Village on Umunya Youth Sustainable Network Project Competition
Bronze Prize: United Nations ECOSOC Youth Forum: Sub-Saharan Open University Prize for the Best Village on Umunya Youth Sustainable Network Project Competition
1st Runner-Up Prize: United Nations ECOSOC Youth Forum- H.E. Rt. Hon Prof. Phillip Phinn African Children Cultural Prize for 1st Runner-Up on Umunya Youth Sustainable Network Project
2nd Runner UP Prize: United Nations ECOSOC Youth Forum- Safe Harbour Foundation Prize for the 2nd Runner UP on Umunya Youth Sustainable Network Project
Including supporting cash and consolation prizes from:
Prof I. G Okafor Cash Prize, Bar JUNI and Irene Menakaya Foundation Intl Cash Prize, Center for Consumer Financial Capability – CeFCAP Cash Prize, MACBAN Corp Cash Prize, Glorious Christ Ambassador Ministries International Cash Prize, Prince Engr. Somto Abalu Cash Prize, H.E. Dr Denis Antoine Cash Prize for Gold Prize, Prince Mario-Max Schaumburg-Lippe Cash Prize, Kpajie Ezenwamadu Cash Prize, and Observer Mission of Pan-African Intergovernmental Agency on Water and Sanitation for Africa to the United Nations Sanitation Club and T-Shirts.
Speakers from distinguished youth advisors, the Umunya elder statesman, and stakeholders, Educators, legal luminary of Umunya, Lords spiritual and temporals from the two main Christian religions in Umunya encouraged the youth and students to wake up to the global call of bringing the United Nations to the doorsteps of Umunya and to eschew frivolities that will provide a pathway to their sustainable future. Youth from villages and students were encouraged to put themselves in the spirit of innovation and creativity to develop their intellectual property beyond the usual classroom education, enabling them to develop their inherent potential and create a pathway for their sustainable future. In his closing remarks, the coordinator of the Post ECOSOC Youth Forum-Umunya Youth Sustainable Network, Mr. Damian Egwuonwu, called on the villages and the stakeholders to a “FINGER FIST Agenda” to bridge global and local realities, empowering Umunya youth to innovate, unite, and transform their community through sustainable development pathways aligned with the SDGs and Umunya’s Village Youth Sustainable Network development priorities. He pleaded with the youth to stand tall with their project and to enact action for education, empowerment, exchange, and entrepreneurship for the development of our great town, Umunya.
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