The Rivers Secondary Schools Old Boys and Girls 1983 Set Association has called for urgent action to improve access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities for children, stressing that poor access continues to threaten the health, dignity and educational development of African children.
The association made the call during the commemoration of the 2026 International Day of the African Child held on June 16 at Baptist High School, Borikiri, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The event was themed: “Ensuring Universal Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Every Child in Africa.”
Speaking at the event, President of the Association, Barrister Tubokomba Harry, said discussions around Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other 21st-century skills would amount to little if children remained vulnerable to preventable diseases caused by lack of access to clean water.
“What good are STEM, AI and other modern skills when a child is too sick from cholera to sit in class because there is no clean water? What good are big dreams when government cannot guarantee something as basic as water for children to wash their hands?
“This is not merely a development issue; it is a justice issue that touches on survival. We are here not only to celebrate the African child but also to defend their right to health and dignity and partner with institutions willing to provide these essential amenities,” he said.
In his welcome address, the Principal of Baptist High School, Mr. Opuene Albert-Dede, commended the association for selecting the school as venue for this year’s celebration, describing the gesture as evidence that society has not abandoned its responsibility to younger generations.
He noted that the theme challenged parents, educators, community leaders, policymakers, corporate organisations and civil society groups to renew their commitment to ensuring that every African child has access to quality education, healthcare, protection and an enabling environment to thrive.
Albert-Dede also appealed to alumni associations and other stakeholders to establish skill acquisition centres in secondary schools across Africa.
“Such centres will equip young people with practical skills, promote entrepreneurship and better prepare them for the realities and opportunities that await them beyond the classroom,” he said.
Delivering the theme presentation, a lecturer at the Centre for Water and Sanitation, Rivers State University, Dr. Raymond Charles Awortu, described water, sanitation and hygiene as three interconnected pillars at the heart of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, which seeks universal access to safe and affordable drinking water and sanitation by 2030.
According to him, Sub-Saharan Africa continues to record the lowest WASH coverage globally, with about 12 per cent of health budgets spent treating preventable diseases linked to poor sanitation and inadequate water infrastructure.
He urged governments to prioritise child-focused WASH indicators in national budgets, strengthen health education and child protection programmes, and enforce child-friendly sanitation standards in schools and healthcare facilities.
Also speaking, Dr. Helen May Ogoun, a member of the association, addressed students on “The Effects of Poor Hygiene Among Teenagers.”
She emphasised the importance of personal hygiene in maintaining good health, confidence and self-respect, urging students to bathe regularly, brush their teeth properly, wash their hands frequently and wear clean clothes.
Ogoun warned that poor hygiene contributes to the spread of diseases such as diarrhoea, influenza and COVID-19, as well as skin infections, bad breath and reproductive health complications among adolescent girls.
In another presentation titled “Made for More: Sex, Purpose and the African Child,” Barrister Ngozi Ajayi,a member of the association, encouraged students to uphold moral values and make responsible decisions regarding their future.
She cautioned that premarital sexual activities could result in unwanted pregnancies, emotional trauma and sexually transmitted infections, urging students to remain focused on their education and life goals.
“Africa needs your brains, your gifts and your education. Do not exchange your future for temporary pleasure. Your body is the vehicle for your purpose; do not destroy it before reaching your destination,” she advised.
Speaking on “Boys as Future Heads of Homes,” Engr. Michael Sonata Wifa,a member of the association, said boys must cultivate responsibility, integrity, emotional intelligence and leadership qualities to prepare for future family and societal responsibilities.
“Be responsible and have outstanding character. Be a good listener so that you can handle conflicts and also be a good decision maker,” he also advised.
In an interview, the Secretary-General of the Association, Dr. Ibinabo Ogolo, said the commemoration had become an annual programme of the group and that this year’s event marked its third edition.
She explained that the choice of theme was informed by growing concerns that Africa remains behind in achieving universal access to WASH services.
“From what we have observed, this school has a borehole but lacks a generator to pump water except when there is public power supply. The toilet facilities are also inadequate. These are the realities we are drawing attention to. Our children deserve better access to water, sanitation and hygiene,” she said.
Activities at the event included a debate by students on whether indigenous languages should be prioritised over English language learning, presentation of certificates and cash awards to outstanding students in Mathematics and English from JSS1 to SS2, as well as the presentation of gift to the school management.
The Day of the African Child is observed annually on June 16 to honour the memory of students in Soweto, South Africa, who protested for quality education in 1976.
