Calabar, May 18, 2027 The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in partnership with the University of Calabar has launched a campus-wide initiative aimed at eliminating open defecation within the institution.
The campaign, which kicked off with a sensitisation rally across the campus on Monday, is part of UNICEF’s Clean Campus Programme designed to promote better sanitation habits and encourage compliance with open defecation-free standards.
Speaking during the rally, the Dean of Students Affairs, Prof. Offiong Mensah, highlighted the health and environmental dangers associated with poor sanitation practices.
He noted that despite its risks, open defecation had become a growing concern on campus.
According to him, the practice poses serious health threats to students and undermines the quality of the learning environment, stressing that the university does not support such behaviour.
He, however, acknowledged that inadequate toilet facilities and entrenched habits contribute to the problem.
Mensah said the university management was already addressing the situation through rehabilitation and replacement of toilet facilities across campus.
He added that efforts were ongoing to evacuate blocked septic tanks and ensure functional sanitation facilities are available in all areas of the institution.
A member of UNICEF’s Young People Action Team, Mr Dumbari Life, said the initiative would be driven largely by students, combining awareness creation with a behavioural change challenge.
He explained that the first phase focused on sensitisation, while subsequent stages would involve assessing toilet availability and supporting improvements where necessary to discourage unsafe sanitation practices.
Life said the university was selected based on an existing three-year partnership with UNICEF covering youth and campus development programmes.
He added that similar interventions were ongoing in several other universities, with emphasis on addressing infrastructure gaps and improving hygiene standards.
Also speaking, the Students’ Union Government President, Emmanuel Obo, acknowledged that poor facilities and habitual practices from home environments contribute to the challenge.
The Director of the Entrepreneurship Development Centre at the university, Prof. Markson Aniedi-Abasi, urged students to translate the awareness campaign into practical behavioural change by properly using and maintaining available facilities.
He encouraged students to take responsibility for maintaining cleanliness across hostels and lecture areas, stressing that a healthy environment is essential for effective learning.
He further called on students to serve as ambassadors of sanitation by promoting hygiene standards within the university community.