March 2025

Water is life but for millions of Nigerian women and girls, the lack of clean water is a daily struggle. From trekking long distances to fetch water to missing school due to poor sanitation, the water crisis disproportionately affects women and girls in underserved communities.

According to UNICEF, only 26.5% of Nigerians have access to safe drinking water. In rural areas, this percentage drops even lower, putting millions at risk of disease, gender-based violence, and lost opportunities. Here’s how:

1. The Endless Walk for Water
In many rural communities, girls and women wake up before dawn to trek several kilometres just to fetch water from streams, wells, or boreholes. This daily routine robs them of valuable time that could be spent in school, learning skills, or earning an income.
In places where access to safe water is critically low, the burden of water collection falls almost entirely on women and girls, reinforcing gender inequality.

2. Dirty Water = Sickness and Death
Many families in underserved communities rely on contaminated water from rivers, ponds, and unprotected wells. This exposes them to waterborne diseases like cholera, typhoid, and diarrhea—illnesses that claim thousands of Nigerian lives every year.
The 2023 cholera outbreak in Nigeria affected more than 30,000 people, with women and children among the most vulnerable (NCDC, 2023). Unsafe water is a silent killer, and Nigerian women and girls are on the frontlines.

3. Period Poverty Keeps Girls Out of School
Menstrual hygiene is a huge challenge when there is no clean water to wash, and no proper toilets in schools. In many parts of Nigeria, girls miss school during their periods because of stigma, lack of sanitary products, and poor sanitation facilities.
According to UNESCO, about 1 in 10 Nigerian girls drop out of school due to period poverty. If we want to keep girls in school, we must ensure access to safe water and proper toilets in schools.

4. Increased Risk of Sexual Violence
Fetching water is not just exhausting but can also be dangerous. In many parts of northern Nigeria and conflict-affected areas, women and girls risk harassment, assault, and even abduction when they have to fetch water from distant or unsafe locations.
The Global Water Institute reports that women in IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps are particularly vulnerable, as they often must leave their camps to fetch water, making them targets for sexual violence.

5. Household Responsibilities Multiply
In Nigerian culture, women are traditionally responsible for household chores including cooking, cleaning, and caring for children. When water is scarce, these tasks become even harder, doubling their unpaid labour and leaving them with little time for education or economic activities.

6. Lost Economic Opportunities
When women spend hours fetching water, they lose valuable time that could be used for income-generating activities. Many women in rural Nigeria engage in farming, trading, or small businesses, but without access to water, their economic potential is stifled.
According to the World Bank, increasing women’s access to water and sanitation could boost Nigeria’s economy by billions.

7. Climate Change is Making Things Worse
Nigeria is already feeling the impact of climate change—droughts, desertification, and unpredictable rainfall are making access to water even more difficult. In northern states like Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi, water shortages are worsening, leaving women and girls to travel even farther in search of water.
As water sources dry up, competition increases, sometimes leading to violent conflicts between communities yet another burden placed on women, who must navigate these dangerous situations just to provide for their families.

What Can We Do?
Here’s how we can help:
✅ Invest in clean water projects: More boreholes, wells, and water treatment facilities are needed in underserved areas.
✅ Improve sanitation in schools: More toilets and hygiene facilities can keep girls in school.
✅ Empower women economically: Reducing the time spent fetching water means more time for education and work.
✅ Raise awareness: Educating communities on water conservation and hygiene practices can save lives.
Water is a right, not a privilege. Let’s work together to make clean water accessible to every woman and girl in Nigeria!

Speak Wednesday is an initiative of CFHI to address issues around gender-based violence and gender bias.
#SpeakWednesday #WaterCrisisNigeria #WomenAndWater #GirlsDeserveBetter #EndWaterPoverty #SanitationMatters #WaterIsLife #HygieneForHer #SafeWaterNow #SDG6 #AccessToWater #WaterEquality #EveryDropCounts #CleanWaterForAll

Sources:
• UNICEF Nigeria (2023): Water, Sanitation & Hygiene in Nigeria
• NCDC (2023): Cholera Outbreak Report
• UNESCO (2022): Menstrual Hygiene and Girls’ Education
• Global Water Institute (2020): Gender and Water Security in Africa
• World Bank (2023): The Economic Impact of Water Scarcity

Did you know that something as simple as clean water and proper hygiene can save millions of lives? Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) are the frontline defenses against deadly diseases, yet many communities still lack access to these essentials. Strengthening WASH systems isn’t just a necessity—it’s a lifesaver!

Water: The Elixir of Life
Unsafe water is a silent killer, spreading disease like cholera, typhoid, and diarrhea. But with proper filtration, treatment, and storage, we can turn contaminated sources into life-giving sustenance. Community-driven solutions like boreholes and piped water systems ensure safe drinking water for all.

Sanitation & Hygiene: Small Actions, Big Impact
CFHI has been at the forefront of promoting sanitation and hygiene. We actively educate communities on essential hygiene practices such as handwashing, proper waste disposal, and environmental sanitation. Through collaborations with partners like the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), we provided clean water sources to communities, including the installation of a borehole in 2020 and participated in global awareness campaigns like World Water Day. Our initiatives help prevent waterborne diseases and improve public health outcomes.
Poor sanitation fuels disease outbreaks, while simple habits like handwashing with soap can reduce diarrheal diseases by approximately 23% to 40% and respiratory infections by 16% to 21% (CDC, Global Handwashing Partnership). Investing in latrines, proper waste disposal, and hygiene education isn’t just about cleanliness—it’s about survival. Investing in latrines, proper waste disposal, and hygiene education isn’t just about cleanliness—it’s about survival.

WASH is not just about infrastructure; it’s about empowerment. Governments, NGOs, and communities must unite to expand access and promote safe practices. Together, we can build a healthier, disease-free world—one clean drop at a time!

Our society continues to place obstacles in the path of women, forcing them to fight for every inch of progress. Whether in politics, business, or daily life, women are still battling for rights that should never be up for debate. There are countless instances where women are marginalised, making it clear that fairness is still not the norm.

Women in Leadership: Seen but Not Heard

One major example is political representation. Women in Nigerian politics face barriers that go beyond the ballot box. From party structures that favour male candidates to the financial hurdles of campaigning, the political space is designed to keep women out. When women do break through, they are subjected to intimidation, verbal abuse, and character assassination simply for daring to exist in male-dominated spaces.

Society is quick to question a woman’s ambition but never a man. A woman in leadership is labelled “too emotional” or “too bossy” while a man doing the same is called “strong” and “decisive.” It’s not about capability; it’s about a system that wants to keep women in the background.

Workplace Discrimination and Harassment

Another glaring example is workplace discrimination. In many workplaces, women are still fighting for equal pay, promotions, and respect. They are often paid less than their male counterparts for the same job and are overlooked for leadership roles because of outdated beliefs that men are better suited for decision-making positions. Maternity leave is treated as a burden, and women are sometimes even forced to choose between career growth and starting a family.

Sexual harassment remains a massive issue. Too many women endure inappropriate behaviour from bosses and colleagues, knowing that speaking up could cost them their jobs. The culture of silence and victim-blaming ensures that predators continue to thrive while women are forced to either tolerate it or risk their careers.

Gender-Based Violence and the Fight for Safety

Perhaps the most alarming instance of marginalisation is gender-based violence. Cases of domestic abuse, sexual assault, and femicide constantly make headlines, yet justice is often delayed or denied. Survivors face shame, disbelief, or pressure to stay silent. The legal system does not always provide adequate protection, and societal attitudes make seeking justice even more difficult.

Women are told to dress “appropriately,” not stay out too late, and avoid “tempting” men as if their safety depends on the actions of predators, not the accountability of the men harming them. A society that blames women for the violence against them is a society that enables that violence.

Stop Asking for What’s Already Yours

Women are not asking for special treatment. They are demanding what has always been theirs—equal opportunities, fair treatment, and the right to live without oppression. Change never comes from silence; it comes from making noise.

So, are you part of the fight, or will your grandchildren have to debate your choices?

Speak. Every. Wednesday. Speak Every Day. Until We Act right.

#SpeakWednesday #WomenEquality #EndDiscrimination #GenderJustice #WomenInLeadership #BreakTheBias #EqualRights