Guinness Nigeria partners WaterAid, Oxfam, on water projects

Guinness Nigeria Plc, a subsidiary of Diageo has partnered WaterAid, Oxfam and Concern Universal on new Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programmes for 2016. This is part of its efforts in advancing a collaborative corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative that promotes rural sanitation and hygiene via access to safe water.

The partners made their intentions known at a stakeholders meeting in Lagos recently during which they affirmed their commitment to building relationships that stretch beyond the commercial bottom-line to the engagement of communities to make positive impact on their lives.

During the event,  Peter Ndegwa, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Guinness Nigeria Plc, stated: ”At Guinness Nigeria Plc, we have a real commitment to providing safe water to Nigerian communities and have provided over 25 potable water facilities to communities across Nigeria under our Water of Life programme.

“The partnerships we are speaking of today are testament to that commitment. The NGOs we are working with have a proven track record for delivering highly impactful water, sanitation and hygiene programmes in Nigeria, and other countries of the world. Their work has saved millions of lives, and created a brighter future for many. We are therefore confident that their expertise will help us improve the viability of our water and sanitation interventions, as well as the impact on beneficiaries.  Furthermore, it is our hope that our partnership with these NGOs inspires other stakeholders to join in our mission to help more Nigerians have access to clean water and improved hygiene.”

Under terms of the partnership, Guinness Nigeria will provide funding that will enable the three non-governmental organizations (NGOs) deliver WASH programmes in three states across the country. On one hand, the Guinness-Concern Universal will deliver the WASH programme in Cross River state; while the Guinness-OXFAM collaboration will apply in Benue state, and the Guinness-WaterAID program in Bauchi State. Through these partnerships, Guinness Nigeria will help to provide water to over 35,800 Nigerians. Each of these programmes comprises water facilities (bore holes and other ancillary facilities, while toilets will also be constructed for the WaterAid and Oxfam programmes).

Concern Universal’s Country Director, Tim Connell, said the 2nd Phase II of the ‘Safe Water and Improved Sanitation and Hygiene’ (SWISH) program will provide year-round access to safe drinking water for 15 rural communities in three local government areas in Cross River State, while continuing to promote better sanitation and hygiene behaviour.

On his part, Programme Officer, Integrated Water Resource Management, OXFAM Nigeria, Eyong Sunday stated that the organization will use funding from Guinness Nigeria to set up a new self-sustaining water project in Tyowanye community in Buruku LGA of Benue State.  The project will comprise of a deep motorized (solar powered) borehole and a VIP toilet. It is expected to benefit a minimum of 1,500 households, totalling about 10,500 people.

DANIEL OBI