Building Thriving Communities Through Investment in Responsible Water Stewardship, Social Amenities
By EDET UDOH
United Nations states, “Water is critical for sustainable development, including environmental integrity and the alleviation of poverty and hunger, and is indispensable for human health and well-being.”
In realization of the critical role water plays in human existence, Nestle Nigeria, as a good and responsible corporate citizen, has continued to lead action in ensuring the provision of life-enhancing amenities such as water, hospital facilities, renovation of schools and hospitals, digging of boreholes and constructions of overhead water tanks in schools, hospitals and community centres, provision of scholarships for deserving youths as well as empowerment training for women.
To ensure the availability of water and conserve it for future generations, Nestle attaches a high commitment to responsible water resource management because, as a manufacturing company, they rely on water throughout their supply chains and operations and therefore recognize their role in helping to ensure access to safe water and sanitation in communities near their operational bases across the globe even as they vowed to continue to invest in responsible water stewardship in their factories.
Nestlé’s approach to sustainable water management aligns with the globally recognized Water Stewardship framework – ‘the AWS standard’ ensuring water-related best practices in all its operations with a commitment to certifying all its water sites to the AWS standard.
The Company’s Agbara site attained this status in 2021 while Abaji factory was certified in 2022. In a practical demonstration of its commitment to the well-being of the people and the growth of its operational communities, the firm has embarked on various enviable community development projects including boreholes, provision of overhead water tanks, renovation of classroom blocks, and provision of water and sanitation facilities.
Some of the life-changing community projects carried out by the company include amongst others provision of water sanitation facilities at two schools at Oke-Onna United School, Abeokuta and Saint Paul’s Anglican School, Orile Imo in Obafemi Owode, both in Ogun State; provision of water sanitation for school in Agbara; renovated and fully equipped block of three classrooms in School 1, Agbara, Ogun State; renovation of a community health centre in Sagamu, Ogun State; built and donated multiple community development projects including solar-powered water borehole at Manderigi and Agbaji Communities in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja as well as provision of a water facility for All Saints Primary School, Owode, Ogun State. All these were done in the last four years.
Over the past years, Nestlé Nigeria has delivered projects aimed at providing clean and safe drinking water as well as wash facilities for individuals, families and communities where the company operates. In this period about 15 wash projects have been donated in Ogun State and Abaji within the FCT.
In 2021 alone, the company commissioned four water and sanitation facilities in schools around her operations, reaching over 1,600 learners and educators.
Nestlé, in April 2021, commissioned an additional water and sanitation project at Salvation Army School 2, Edu, Agbara in Ogun state to provide access to clean and safe drinking water and sanitation for over 1,000 more people including educators, learners and families within the community.
In October 2021, Nestlé Nigeria renovated a community health centre in Sagamu, Ogun State. Primary health care is a grassroots approach towards universal and equitable healthcare for all. In Nigeria, some primary healthcare centres cannot often provide essential healthcare services, due to challenges like inadequate equipment, poor infrastructure and lack of essential drugs.
In addition to her contribution to the capacity development of Health Care Professionals, Nestlé Nigeria is contributing to changing the narrative with the refurbishment of facilities and equipping of the laboratory at Ajaka Primary HealthCare Center in Sagamu.
This intervention by Nestle will help improve the delivery of healthcare services to over 200,000 indigenes who depend on the centre.
Nestlé Nigeria completely renovated the buildings within the centre, constructed sanitation facilities and a kitchenette; just as it also installed an alternative source of power supply and provided new equipment.
To address the security challenges experienced by the centre, Nestlé Nigeria also built a perimeter fence around the facility and installed gates to control access. This intervention supports Sustainable Development Goal 3 – Good Health and Well-Being. It is also in line with Ogun State Government’s efforts to ensure the sustainability of primary health care in the state.”
In February 2022 Nestlé donated a water facility for a school in Ogun State. The facilities provided to serve over 500 individuals including educators, learners and families within the community, further demonstrated the company’s commitment to enhancing the quality of life and building thriving communities closest to her operations.
Nestle is not only giving succour to the people of the host communities, they believe in the future prosperity of the people and in the principle of teaching people how to fish instead of giving them fish. This they do by empowering the youths and the women through training and skill acquisition programmes.
The company also gives scholarships to the deserving indigenes of it operations bases in Lagos, Ogun, and Abuja. The scholarship scheme is positioned to enable deserving students of her host communities to attain their educational and personal aspirations through financial sponsorship.
The scheme which was launched in 2020 for the host communities of the company’s factories located at Sagamu Interchange, Ogun State and Abaji, Federal Capital Territory, has been extended to include the host community of the company’s third factory in Agbara, Ogun State.
Speaking at the commissioning of a powered water borehole at Manderigi community, Abaji, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nestlé Nigeria’s Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Victoria Uwadoka, said, “Our commitment to creating shared value compels us to contribute towards improving livelihoods within the communities closest to our operations. We have sustained our investment in building water facilities and improving infrastructure in public schools because we believe that access to clean, safe water and quality education are two of the basic human needs for ensuring our social and economic development.
These actions, according to her, align to SDG 4 – ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all and SDG 6 – ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.”
Speaking at the commissioning of water and sanitation facilities at Oke-Ona United School, Abeokuta and St Paul’s Anglican School, Orile Imo in Obafemi Owode, both in Ogun State provided by Nestle, the Honorable Commissioner for Education in Ogun State, Professor Abayomi Arigbabu commended Nestle Nigeria for their contribution.
He said “This contribution to the welfare of the leaders of tomorrow is highly commendable, and we do not take it for granted. Your consistent efforts to add value through the provision of water and sanitation facilities in schools within Ogun State is highly appreciated. The addition of yet another facility at Salvation Army Primary School 2, Edu, Agbara is indeed a welcome support to this administration led by Prince Dapo Abiodun, MFR.”
Also speaking at the commissioning, the Board Chairperson of Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Femi Majekodunmi said, “Today’s event is another milestone in our collective drive to further improve the state of personal hygiene in our schools and society at large. I am therefore glad to note that the project which consists of VIP toilets, a borehole and a 2,000 litre capacity overhead storage tank all at Salvation Army Primary School 2, Edu Agbara, Ado Odo/Ota Local Government Area are timely and built to world-class standards. I wish to also charge the School Management, Staff and our esteemed learners to make good use of the facilities through proper maintenance to motivate the donors as well as others to do more.”
“I, therefore, wish to especially appreciate Nestlé Nigeria PLC for this laudable intervention in addition to the earlier executed facilities at Oke-Ona United Primary School, Elega Abeokuta North and Saint Paul’s Anglican Primary School, Orile-lmo in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area.”
Community leaders, dignitaries as well as the administrators, educators and learners of Salvation Army School 2, expressed delight at finally having water and good toilet facilities within the school premises.
During World Water Day 2023, Nestlé Nigeria in partnership with Ogun State Ministry of Environment, hosted a stakeholders’ forum to promote sustainable water stewardship practices, the forum had over 400 stakeholders in attendance drawn from the public and private sectors across Ogun State.
World Water Day is a United Nations observance day to raise awareness about the inaccessibility of water for billions of people globally and to advocate the sustainable management of freshwater resources. Without access to water resources, communities are faced with a higher risk of disease, food insecurity, environmental degradation, and economic decline.
The theme for the year’s event which was “Accelerating Change,” drew peoples’ attention to the need for fast-tracking actions to solve the global water and sanitation crisis.
Oladimeji Oresanya, Ogun State Commissioner for Environment was quoted in a statement by Nestle Nigeria as saying “The event today is not just another talk show, but an opportunity for productive engagement with all stakeholders to undertake a critical diagnosis of issues affecting the sector to proffer practical and sustainable solutions. Be assured that the Ministry is committed to accelerating positive change in the water sector to ensure water and sanitation for all in line with Sustainable Development Goal 6. I commend companies who have embraced water stewardship and are executing initiatives and projects, towards sustainable water management and governance in the state”.
Managing Director/CEO Nestlé Nigeria PLC, Wassim Elhusseini, ably represented at the occasion by Category and Marketing Manager Nestlé Waters, Joy Abdullahi-Johnson, said, “We are delighted to have this opportunity to celebrate World Water Day 2023 in collaboration with the Ogun State Ministry of Environment. The theme for this year, “Accelerating Change” is very significant given our shared commitment to increase access to clean, safe water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities (WASH) within our communities.
“Nestlé Nigeria is committed to protecting the environment for future generations and caring for water is one of the ways we do this. In line with this commitment, we work together with key stakeholders to address shared watershed challenges. We also continuously improve water efficiency across our operations and reduce water withdrawals in our factories by managing and reusing water”.
Delivering the keynote lecture, the Managing Director, Ogun Oshun River Basin Development Authority, Otunba Olufemi Odumosu said, “Water is essential to life, but water stress threatens supplies. Providing access to safe water is one of the most effective instruments for poverty alleviation and reduction. This year’s theme emphasizes the need to speed up action towards sustainable management of this limited resource, with only 7 years left to achieve the SDGs”.
According to Sola Ogunbor, the Program Manager, Ogun State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, “Mismanagement of water resources today will cost everyone a lot more in the future. Accelerating change entails making a difference by taking small steps in the right direction, being the change we want to see in the world. Our Agency is committed to ensuring that more people in our rural communities in Ogun State have unrestricted access to safely managed water and sanitation facilities”.
The World Water Day 2023 celebration included the second edition of the roundtable discourse on “Water Governance in Ogun State – Progress so far, Challenges and Roadmap”. Panellists from the private and public sectors in Agbara and Sagamu comprised Nestlé Nigeria PLC, Apple and Pears, Ogun State Ministry of Environment, Ogun State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Ogun Oshun River Basin Development Authority and the Nigerian Institute of Water Engineers.
Water is a shared and precious resource that affects everyone. It is the most critical natural resource for human survival, after air. Yet, globally, billions of people do not have access to clean and safe water. An estimated 100 million Nigerians still lack basic sanitation facilities and 63 million do not have access to improved sources of drinking water.
According to irrigeen.com, global freshwater consumption reaches a staggering 4.3 trillion cubic meters each year. As of the beginning of 2023, humanity has already consumed over 2.9 trillion cubic meters of this precious resource. An astounding 1,111,836,984,179 tons of ‘virtual’ water have been traded globally.
“India, China, and the United States emerged as the largest consumers, with water consumption rates of a staggering 761 billion, 581.29 billion, and 444.29 billion cubic meters, respectively.
“The agricultural sector is the primary user, drawing upon 72% of all groundwater resources.
“Projections indicate that urban water demand will surge dramatically, with an estimated 80% increase expected by 2050.
“Water dominates the global consumption of packed beverages, accounting for almost 34%,” irrigreen.com stated.
With the increasing pressure on our water resources, we all need to work together to preserve this vital resource we all depend on. Consistent multi-stakeholder action is required to accelerate change in how we manage this resource to improve access and quality for today while preserving it for future generations.
Nestlé Nigeria has led actions to provide clean and safe water in communities closest to its operations in Ogun State and Abaji within the FCT.
An estimated 100 million Nigerians still lack basic sanitation facilities and 63 million do not have access to improved sources of drinking water, underscoring the need for consistent multi-stakeholder action to increase access.
Speaking at the commission of new water facilities in Abaji West Primary School and Manderigi, Alhaji Suleiman Hassan, Board Chairperson of FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) who was represented by Alhaji Aboki Danladi, Director of School Health and Sports commended Nestlé’s consistent investment in the community.
He said, “Today’s event, which also coincides with World Teachers Day, is another milestone in our shared passion for improving the standard of education in our schools. These projects are timely, and will positively impact the children and teachers in the two schools. This is a laudable contribution to the welfare of the leaders of tomorrow. I particularly commend Nestlé for the consistent investment in promoting education in her host communities,” he added.
On his part, the Onna of Abaji and Chairman FCT Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Adamu Yunusa, represented by the Madaki of Abaji, Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim said, “On behalf of the people of Abaji, I would like to thank Nestlé for the provision of these facilities in our schools. Through the support of Nestlé over the years, our wishes are becoming realities. I call on the school community to take good care of the facilities, ensuring they are well maintained for extended productive use”.
Nestlé Nigeria has led actions to provide clean and safe water and other social amenities in communities closest to its operations in Ogun State and Abaji within the FCT. The company’s interventions in providing access to water support Sustainable Development Goal 6 – ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
This underscores the need for consistent multi-stakeholder action to increase access to sustainable clean water and other amenities such as hospitals, good roads, recreation centres, schools and there is a need also for all to ensure the preservation of the same, and Nestle’s commitment to salvaging this situation is worthy of commendation.
