The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to prioritize investments in hand washing facilities and hygiene education, highlighting the alarming state of sanitation in schools and households across the country.
During a media mission to schools in Borno State on Wednesday, organized to mark the 2025 Global Handwashing Day, the Officer in Charge of UNICEF Maiduguri Field Office, Dr. Marie Marcos, revealed that only 35% of schools in Nigeria have basic hand washing facilities, while just 8% of Nigerians can correctly demonstrate proper hand washing techniques.
According to her, investing in hygiene infrastructure is vital to improving school attendance, public health, and workplace productivity.
“While 99 per cent of Nigerians are aware of when to wash their hands, only 8 per cent can demonstrate proper hand washing techniques. Only 17 per cent of households have access to basic hygiene services, and just 35 per cent of schools have functional hand-washing facilities with soap and water,” Dr. Marcos said.
She added that the North-East region ranks second in Nigeria for households with fixed hand washing stations that have both water and soap.
Highlighting UNICEF’s ongoing efforts, she noted that through a partnership with the Borno State Government, the organization has helped institutionalize group hand washing in 50 schools, benefiting around 20,000 schoolchildren and making the practice a daily and structured activity.
Dr. Marcos urged both state and federal governments to take urgent steps toward strengthening hygiene infrastructure and education nationwide.
“With these findings, we respectfully call on our government at both state and national levels to prioritize and increase investment in hand washing infrastructure and hygiene education in schools,” she appealed.
Also speaking at the event, Gana Mala, Director of Hygiene at the Borno State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, emphasized that promoting consistent hand washing practices can significantly reduce waterborne diseases, improve nutrition, and enhance overall well-being.
“Let us continue to promote hand washing with soap and water, not just today, but every day. Let us work together to make hand washing a culture and a norm in our communities,” she said.
This year’s Global Handwashing Day, themed “Clean Hands Are Within Reach,” aims to raise awareness about the importance of proper hygiene as a critical tool in preventing diseases and safeguarding public health.