Ringim March 18, 2025
The Ike Odoeme Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, has rescued two communities in Ringim local council of Jigawa state, by drilling three hand pump boreholes 8n the communities.
In a speech during the commissioning of the project in Facawa and Riniyal communities in Ringim, the Foundation’s program officer Miss Suzie Agas, said they were delighted to make an impact in the communities.
According to her, the project is a testament for the foundation’s commitment to ensuring that communities have access to clean water, regardless of their location and status.
Water she said, is fundamental to health and economic development but unfortunately, many communities have challenge in accessing safe and clean water.
“Lack of access to clean water, leads to water borne diseases, lack of productivity and limits opportunities for children to focus on their education.
“At the Foundation, we believe that development is meeting the basic needs of people, that is why we have worked closely with community leaders to ensure the boreholes are strategically located.
“The boreholes aren’t about providing water only, but aimed at improving the overall well being of the people,” Miss Agas said.
She however, commended the Ringim local government authority, for supporting and collaborating with them in providing safety and security throughout the project.
Furthermore, on behalf of the foundation, Miss Agas appealed to the community, to take ownership of the boreholes and use water responsibility.
In his remarks at the commissioning ceremony, the Diatrict head of Sankara, Alh. Yusi Ahmed, confirmed that the two communities suffer prolonged of water shortage for many years.
The district head said that although many boreholes have been provided in the communities, yet they lacked maintainance culture.
He tasked the residents to be responsible and take charge of the boreholes in order to have a long life span unlike the previous ones provided.
However, the Chairman of Ringim local government, Mr Badamasi Dabi, commended the Foundation for their resilience to ensure the completion of the project.
He explained that the local government is ever ready to colaborate with non governmental bodies for development of communities.
Dabi, pledged the continous support of the council to vulnerable communities in the local government for the overall development of Jigawa state.
Some of the residents of the area, expressed gratitude for the projects, saying that it has eased the sufferings of their children who walked distance to obtain water.
Speaking on behalf of mothers in the two communities, Mrs Jamila Saidu said that their children were always late for school when they go in search of water at a distance.
She explained that most of the children have obtained scars due to physical fights at places to obtain water.
A young school girl, Saudatu Alhassan, who explained the hardships they encountered in tears, prayed to God to reward the Foundation for the solace.
Little Alhassan explained that she was beaten for lateness many times in school as a result of walking a long distance to get water.
She narrated the bitter experience of going to school many times without bathing or drinking water.
By Aisha Ahmed
Dutse
