Nigeria Sakiru Otusanya
My hope for the future of Nigeria is that we continue to strive toward growth and development through strategic implementation of the Sustainable Development Goal framework.
For example, I experienced a situation where the terrain of loose soil formation contributed significantly to frequent latrine collapse and hindered Open Defecation Free status sustainability in some communities. I facilitated rapid participatory analysis of the challenge with the community members. A variety of indigenous innovative solutions using locally available and affordable materials (such as used tyres, mud bricks, empty pots, water-resistant sticks, etc) for lining or strengthening latrines emerged from the communities. The process was a good lesson that could be adapted to address evolving problems while implementing other developmental works with communities.
This kind of job requires you to think on your feet and be able to adapt to a situation and quickly come up with a solution. My advice to someone who is entering this profession is you need to have the ability to translate competencies into practices, good communications skills, writing skills, be able to work in groups and be innovative with strong analytical skills.
When I’m not working, I like to read, listen, and keep up to date with the latest news as well as just take some time out to relax before I tackle the next working day or week.
My hope for the future of Nigeria is that we continue to strive toward growth and development through strategic implementation of the Sustainable Development Goal framework. Through my work, I hope I can contribute to the termination of faecal-oral transmission also known as ODF (Open Defecation Free) status. The goal is to have no visible faeces found in the environment, village, households, or any public/community institutions. We continue to do this by using safe technology options for the disposal of faeces.
