In a bold and strategic move to eliminate open defecation and elevate public health standards across communities in Awgu Local Government Area (LGA), the Executive Chairman, Hon. Uchenna Joseph Okolo, has flagged off a specialized training programme for local masons and plumbers on the installation of Sato toilet pans.

The week-long capacity-building workshop commenced on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at the Awgu LGA headquarters and is designed to empower grassroots artisans with the technical skills required for the effective deployment of Sato sanitation technology in homes across the area. The training represents a vital phase in Hon. Okolo’s ambitious plan to eradicate open defecation by the end of 2025, in line with national and global targets under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Speaking during the training, the convener of the programme and Special Assistant to the Chairman on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), Hon. Aganigbo Gabriel Ikechukwu, emphasized the hands-on nature of the sessions. According to him, the participants—drawn from various communities in the LGA—will undergo a comprehensive and interactive module covering site assessment, installation techniques, plumbing, waste channeling, and post-installation maintenance of the Sato toilet system.

“This is not just a lecture. It is a practical, skills-transfer engagement. Our artisans will leave here ready to change their communities with the knowledge and tools they have acquired,” Hon. Aganigbo stated.

The training follows the official launch of the End Open Defecation Campaign by Hon. Okolo on June 12, 2025, during which he announced the deployment of 2,000 free Sato pan toilets to households in need across the LGA. This historic rollout forms the backbone of a sanitation revolution in Awgu, directly addressing long-standing public health and environmental concerns linked to open defecation.

In an exclusive remark shared with UGAMA TV, Hon. Uchenna Okolo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustainable sanitation, community development, and inclusive health outcomes.

“We are not just building toilets; we are building dignity, health, and future-ready communities. By empowering our local workforce with practical skills, we’re stimulating job creation, promoting hygiene, and ensuring that no household is left behind in our sanitation revolution,” Hon. Okolo stated.

The Sato toilet pan—an innovative, water-efficient, and user-friendly sanitation solution—has been endorsed by global and national health agencies as a low-cost, high-impact tool in the campaign against open defecation. Its adoption in Awgu marks a pivotal shift towards community-led sanitation models anchored on skill development and public-private partnership.

Local residents have hailed the initiative as timely and transformative, with community leaders lauding the Chairman’s proactive governance and people-centered development philosophy.

With this initiative, Awgu LGA is setting a benchmark for other local councils across the Southeast, showing that with vision, political will, and community participation, even the most entrenched public health challenges can be overcome.

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Hon. Tochukwu Chukwu
Special Adviser on General Media and Publicity to the Awgu LGA Chairman

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