Kaduna, UNICEF Train Local Borehole Mechanics to Boost Rural Water Sustainability

By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna 

The Kaduna State Government, in collaboration with UNICEF and backed by funding from the Government of the Netherlands, has wrapped up a vital capacity-building programme aimed at improving the sustainability of rural water supply systems across the state.

Twenty-one local area mechanics—including two women—have graduated from an intensive hands-on training focused on the rehabilitation and maintenance of hand-pumped and solar-powered boreholes in rural communities. The programme culminated in a ceremony held Thursday in Kaduna, where graduates received certificates and start-up toolboxes to commence service delivery in their respective localities.

UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office in Kaduna, Dr. Gerida Birukila, stressed that the intervention is not just about infrastructure, but long-term access to clean water and sanitation.

“It’s not enough to provide water facilities like boreholes or sanitation infrastructure if they can’t be repaired when they break down. Sustainability is key,” Dr. Birukila said.

She hailed the inclusion of women in the technical training as a milestone in advancing gender equity in the WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) sector.

“Water is life. Access to clean water reduces illness, boosts school attendance, and improves nutrition. With these mechanics now in place, communities can look forward to safer, healthier lives,” she added.

Director General of the Kaduna State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), Mubarak Shehu Ladan, echoed the sustainability message, noting that the training was designed to promote both technical skills and a sense of community ownership.

“Constructing facilities and handing them over to communities is not enough. There must be strategies for proper ownership and long-term maintenance,” he said.

The initiative forms part of the Accelerating Sanitation and Water for All (ASWA III) programme, which aims to increase access to safe water and sanitation services in underserved rural communities.

In Kaduna State, the ASWA III project is being implemented in Lere and Kagarko Local Government Areas, selected through a transparent application and assessment process—not by direct nomination from UNICEF or RUWASSA.

As the newly trained mechanics return to their communities, stakeholders express hope that this marks the beginning of a new era of self-reliant, community-driven water system management in rural Kaduna.