Chief Vunobolki PhD: A Steward of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene

By Peter Cheman Koti

In the annals of leadership, there are figures who leave behind more than policies and programs, they leave legacies of hope, dignity, and transformation. 

Chief Maurice Michael Vunobolki PhD stands among such leaders. During his stewardship of the MCRP (World Bank Assisted Project), his steadfast commitment to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in Adamawa and by extension the northeast, became not just a professional pursuit, but a moral calling.

As man who grew in Numan, a riverine community, he understood the essence of having water close to his abode, and yet having same water unsafe.

Chief Vunobolki understood that water is more than a resource, it is life itself. He often spoke of the silent struggles of communities where children walked miles for a single bucket, where mothers worried about the safety of every sip, and where preventable diseases robbed families of their joy. A recollection of his childhood and early struggles.

When the opportunity to serve came, his vision was clear: to restore dignity through clean water and safe sanitation.

Under his leadership, MCRP achieved milestones that reshaped communities:

• Clean Water Access: Boreholes and community water systems were established in underserved and vulnerable villages, drastically reducing waterborne diseases.

• Sanitation Infrastructure: Latrine projects and hygiene facilities were built in many homes, schools and communities, ensuring safer environments for schools and households. Hence, restoring the dignity of these beneficiaries.

• Community Education: Hygiene awareness campaigns empowered families with knowledge, teaching simple but life-saving practices like handwashing.

• Youth Engagement: He inspired young people to become advocates for WASH, planting seeds of responsibility and leadership in the next generation. A practice many still indulge.

Each achievement was not just a number or statistic, it was a story of a child spared from illness, a mother relieved of worry, and a community given back its strength and dignity.

In leadership, what made Chief Vunobolki’s stewardship extraordinary was not only the scale of his achievements but the compassion behind them. 

He walked with the people, listened to their fears, and celebrated their victories. 

His PhD was not a title of distance, but a tool of service, he used knowledge to uplift, not to separate.

Today, the ripples of his work continue to spread. Communities once forgotten now thrive with renewed optimism. His story reminds us that leadership is not about power, but about service; not about recognition, but about impact.

Chief Maurice Michael Vunobolki’s journey in WASH through MCRP is a roadmap to what happens when intellect meets compassion, and when vision meets action. 

His legacy is water flowing freely, children smiling healthily, and communities standing proudly.

If Chief is giving the opportunity to become the Adamawa state Governor, just imagine how the Kiri Dam in Shelleng LGA will become the Eldorado of water transformation to all and sundry.

Let’s give this gentleman a chance to transform our dear state with quality and strength.

Peter Cheman Koti, Writes form Koti, Song LGA, Adamawa State, Nigeria!