First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has called for urgent action to advance gender equity through improved access to safe water and sanitation, highlighting the heavy burden carried by women and girls in many Nigerian communities.
Her appeal came as Nigeria marked World Water Day on Sunday, March 22, 2026, a global observance that underscores the critical link between water access, health, and human development.
In her statement commemorating the day themed “Water and Gender” with the slogan “Where Water Flows, Equality Grows”, Mrs Tinubu noted that women and girls often bear primary responsibility for fetching water, a task that can limit their education, compromise their health, and restrict economic opportunities.
“Africa’s future depends on how we water its communities, when women and girls are freed from the burden of walking long distances for water, they gain time for education, entrepreneurship, and leadership” Mrs Tinubu said.
World Water Day, established by the United Nations and observed annually on March 22, draws global attention to water challenges and their impact on development.
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The 2026 campaign highlights how water inequality exacerbates gender disparities and stresses the importance of including women in decision-making and water governance.
Globally, nearly 2.1 billion people lack safely managed drinking water, and 3.4 billion people do not have access to safely managed sanitation.
Women and girls bear the heaviest burden, spending millions of hours daily collecting water, according to UN data.
Mrs Tinubu called on federal and state governments, the private sector, development partners, and civil society to invest in sustainable water infrastructure and gender-responsive sanitation facilities, particularly in underserved rural areas.
“This is not just a water issue,” she said. “It is a question of dignity, equality, and the future of Nigeria’s women and girls.”
Experts note that improving access to water and sanitation not only enhances public health and economic outcomes but also strengthens safety, reducing risks for women and girls traveling long distances to fetch water.