By Adekola Afolabi
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Ondo state government said its passion and commitment to the provision of potable water in every nook and cranny of the state is irreversible.

The Chairman, Ondo State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), Mrs. Yetunde Adeyanju, made this known in Akure, the Ondo state capital, shortly after she was conferred with a Merit Award by Akure branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers in recognition of her laudable contributions to the development of the rural communities.

 This is coming as a Director in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Engr. Benson Ajisegiri, lauded the state government over what he called uncommon commitment to the rural water supply across the state.

Other dignitaries who bagged various awards at the 2018 Engineering Week dinner awards Nite of the NSE Akure branch included the Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde,  Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Utilities, Engr. Tunji Ariyomo, Engr. Raimi Aminu , and Engr. Ajisegiri. The Special Guest of Honour and deputy governor, Hon. Agboola Ajayi was represented by his Personal Assistant, Mr Sam Ogunmusi at the event.

Mrs adeyanju explained that the present administration led by Governor Akeredolu has zero tolerance for lack of potable water, hence has embarked on aggressive provision of clean and safe water tagged “Ka Mo Mi Aketi” in every nook and cranny of the state.

She further assured the people of the state of much more water projects and make non availability of potable water in the state a thing of the past.

 According to her, the commitment of the government to make potable water available and accessible to the people across rural communities is total and called for the cooperation of the people to make the projects a huge success.

The RUWASSA boss noted that she is particularly being motivated by the encouragement and commitment from the governor to ensure the people of the state have access to clean and safe water.

“The people of Ondo State should be expecting much more water projects in every nook and cranny of the State. Everywhere, every corner, it is ‘Ka Mo Mi Aketi’. Water will flow everywhere, water will be available for everybody in Ondo state. That is the mandate given RUWASSA by Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. He said zero tolerance for lack of water supply in Ondo state and we will not let him down in fulfilling that mandate.

On the award given to her, Adeyanju noted that the award will spur her to do more, noting that she is happy that the society is appreciating the efforts of the government in making water available to the people. She equally promised the Akure branch of the NSE one borehole.

The General Manager, RUWASSA, Engr Oladimeji Rotimi, said the award conferred on Mrs Adeyanju was a well-deserved one because of her passion and commitment to water supply in the state.

Meanwhile, a Director in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Engr.  Benson Ajisegiri, has commended Ondo State government led by Oluwarotimi Akeredolu revamping water infrastructure especially in the rural communities, adding that he is impressed with the government initiative, just as he said  without water there cannot be meaningful development

Engr Ajisegiri who also bagged NSE Leadership Quality award, explained that rural communities in the state where about 60% of the entire population of the state are living have been neglected in the past, but the present administration through its water projects called Ka Mo Mi is revamping water infrastructure to make the rural dwellers have access to potable water supply.

He emphasised that with adequate water supply productivity will improve, students enrollment in the schools will also increase  and the people generally will be healthy, describing the development as a better approach to improve the society.

Earlier, the National President, NSE, Engr Adekunle Mokuolu who was represented by the National Vice President, Engr Joseph Akinteye,  lauded the exemplary leadership quality of the Akure branch of NSE, Engr Oloruntoba Abe, for taking the society from nowhere to a greater height within a short period of time.

Also, Chairman, NSE Akure branch,  Engr oloruntoba Abe congratulated all the awardees, saying the award was to recognize their positive contributions to the NSE and the entire society. The theme of this year’s Engineering Week is “Public Infrastructure for the Development of the Rural Communities in Ondo State”.