Ekiti State Small Town, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency has organized a 2-day training workshop for Community Local Area Mechanics (LAM) and Village Level Operation and Maintenance (VLOM) personnel across the state on the maintenance of hand pump boreholes installed in some selected rural communities in the State under the Sustainable Urban, Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) Programme.
Speaking while flagging off the training in Ado-Ekiti , the General Manager of the Agency, Mr. Ayo Alegbeleye, represented by his Director of Water Supply ,Mr Adebayo Ogundola emphasized that the training would enable participants address technical issues and repair minor faults at the water points at a little or no cost rather than allowing the facility to break down .
He explained that the aim of the two-day training was to equip participants with skills to operate and maintain hand pump boreholes towards ensuring the sustainability aspect of the SURWASH Programme.
Alegbeleye charged the participants to effectively utilize their newly acquired skills to ensure 100% functionality of water points and maintenance of the facilities across the state.
He stated that the 32 officers trained at the forum were expected to cascade the training to relevant technical personnel in their various local governments areas for the training to have the required multiplier effect in the benefitting rural communities where the hand operated boreholes are located
Delivering their presentations, Mr. Adebayo Olarenwaju and Falegan Folasade from the Agency, highlighted the importance of the workshop to empowering users on how to manage their water systems, promoting Community ownership and reducing dependence on external technicians.
The participants were encouraged to collaborate with Communities during repair to achieve sustainable and maintenance culture.
The trainees later visited New Iyin Road and Ilesa garage along Basiri area of Ado-Ekiti where they repaired some abandoned hand operated boreholes as part of the practical experience of the workshop for a better understanding of some issues that may cause non-functionality of boreholes.
Mechanical tools were presented to Participants after the training to enhance their service delivery, strengthening community -led maintenance and ensure long -term functionality of the Water facilities.
The tool boxes are expected to be kept at the LGA WASH office for safe custody.