Nigerian NGO plans to set up Legislative Water Caucuses

Speech by Temple Oraeki at the UN Multi-Stakeholder Thematic Webinar on UN 2023 Water Conference

Water crisis is not just a water sector issue; it is a multi-sector issue and should be addressed as such.

At this point, improved multi-sectoral and inter-generational collaboration is non-negotiable and a key change that is very necessary for accelerating progress to achieve the SDG targets relevant for water for sustainable development.

We must improve on engaging and involving other sectors to drive the water action agenda. Decision makers in the health, environment, manufacturing, education, agricultural, energy, mining and including the civil society sector, should start making water commitments and be held accountable to save, conserve and value water in their respective sectors.

The Youths are the engine room for a revitalized global water sector, and we cannot afford to continue to relegate the youths to the background. Just as talk is good; talk backed with action is even better. So, we are not going to stop talking and taking actions and that is where the youths come in.

The UN Water 2023 conference is a once-in-a-generation event and it offers a leapfrog opportunity to strengthen this call for action because it is the most important water event in a generation and it is an event that brings the world together, irrespective of the sector and so we want to see commitments, pledges and actions taken by sector leaders outside the water sector.

As a passionate WASH Advocate and founder of the Network of Water Rights Initiative (NEWAR) in Nigeria, we are poised to set the pace in making commitment to the Water Action Agenda.

One of our key commitments to the Water Action Agenda is to get the Parliamentarians involved in addressing water challenges in the Country by setting up a “Parliamentary WASH Caucus”. Considering the Nigerian context where states are responsible for WASH provision, we have kicked off with establishing the Caucus at the sub-national levels.

Editor’s note:

• The UN 2023 Water Conference – formally known as the 2023 Conference for the Midterm Comprehensive Review of Implementation of the UN Decade for Action on Water and Sanitation (2018-2028) – will take place at UN Headquarters in New York, 22-24 March 2023
• Temple Chukwuemeka Oraeki is Director, Coordinator, Nigeria Young Water Professionals