Bhubaneswar: In a significant milestone for Odisha’s urban sanitation sector, the Odisha Water Supply and Sewerage Board (OWSSB) has been selected to mentor the Lagos State Wastewater Management Office (LSWMO), Nigeria, under a global initiative supported by UN-Habitat.

The five-year partnership (2026–2030), facilitated through the Global Water Operators’ Partnerships Alliance (GWOPA), will focus on strengthening sanitation service delivery in Lagos State through the adoption of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and data-driven governance systems. The selection of OWSSB reflects growing international recognition of Odisha’s pioneering work in digital sanitation management and citywide fecal sludge and septage management (FSSM).

OWSSB to provide strategic and operational mentorship to LSWMO

Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) Department Additional Chief Secretary Usha Padhee today chaired a high-level meet to review the roadmap and chart immediate next steps.

The meeting was attended by senior officials including Sikha Biswal, FA cum Special Secretary, Bhagyadhar Mohanty, EIC, OWSSB cum Additional Secretary, Debabrata Mohanty, Managing Director, WATCO, Bilash Behera, Engineer-in-Chief, PHEO, Suvendu Sahu, Director, Odisha Urban Academy and Prasant Mohapatra Technical Resource Person, H&UD department along with representatives from Athena Infonomics and eGov Foundation.

Under the partnership, OWSSB will provide strategic and operational mentorship to LSWMO, drawing upon Odisha’s successful implementation of the DIGIT platform and its experience in deploying digital tools to improve sanitation governance, service delivery, and citizen engagement.

OWSSB will support Lagos State in designing and operationalising a robust Digital Public Infrastructure framework, covering governance structures, ownership models, institutional arrangements, and long-term sustainability mechanisms. The collaboration will also facilitate the development of a customised Strategic Digital Roadmap and a live Integrated Data Management System (IDMS) to monitor sanitation services and support evidence-based decision-making.

The programme includes exposure visits to Odisha

A strong emphasis will be placed on knowledge exchange and capacity building. The programme will include thematic learning clinics, virtual mentoring sessions, peer-learning engagements, and exposure visits to Odisha, enabling officials from Lagos State to witness firsthand the state’s successful citywide FSSM reforms and digital innovations.

The partnership is supported by a consortium of international institutions comprising Athena Infonomics as Technical Lead and Facilitator, IHE Delft Institute for Water Education for capacity building and research support, eGov Foundation as the digital transformation partner, and the African Water and Sanitation Association (AfWASA) as Regional Advisor.

According to Padhee, Odisha’s selection as a mentor utility under the UN-Habitat-supported programme is a testament to the state’s sustained efforts in building inclusive, technology-enabled, and sustainable urban sanitation systems. She noted that the partnership would not only strengthen sanitation outcomes in Lagos State but also create opportunities for mutual learning and global collaboration.

With this landmark initiative, Odisha is set to showcase its digital sanitation innovations on the global stage while contributing meaningfully to international efforts aimed at improving urban sanitation services and achieving sustainable development goals.