By Abbas Nazil
Nestlé Nigeria has partnered with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation to launch a nationwide Water Quality Advocacy Campaign aimed at improving access to safe and clean water across the country.
The collaboration was announced in Abuja during a courtesy visit to the Water Resources and Sanitation Minister, Prof Joseph Utsev by Nestlé Nigeria and members of the Organised Private Sector in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (OPS-WASH).
The campaign seeks to raise awareness, educate communities, and mobilize coordinated, multi-stakeholder action toward safer water practices and enhanced water quality management.
Through a combination of community engagement, data collection, and long-term infrastructure support, the initiative intends to close existing water safety gaps and reduce health risks linked to contaminated water, such as cholera and diarrhea.
Prof Utsev welcomed the partnership and highlighted the need for robust collaborations to address Nigeria’s ongoing water and sanitation challenges.
He reaffirmed the ministry’s full support for the campaign, noting its alignment with national goals of climate resilience, flood mitigation, and clean water accessibility.
“Clean water is not just a necessity, it is a right and a responsibility,” Utsev stated. “This partnership with Nestlé Nigeria is in line with our mission to guarantee safe water for all Nigerians, and we are committed to working together to ensure impactful and timely results.”
Representing Nestlé Nigeria, Ms. Victoria Uwadoka, the company’s Corporate Communications, Public Affairs, and Sustainability Lead, stressed the urgency of improving water access for millions still dependent on unsafe sources.
She noted that the campaign focuses not only on awareness but also on changing behaviors and forming long-term partnerships across sectors to drive sustainable change.
According to Uwadoka, the campaign operates on three strategic pillars: building awareness and knowledge, stakeholder engagement at all levels, and encouraging sustainable practices in water management.
Dr. Nicholas Igwe, National Coordinator of OPS-WASH, emphasized the campaign’s community-level impact, highlighting interventions in 16 communities in the Abaji Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory and 8 others in Agbara, Ogun State.
He also announced that two agricultural communities will benefit from water harvesting systems to enhance irrigation and food production.
Mrs. Elizabeth Ugoh, Director of Water Quality Control and Sanitation, underscored the importance of baseline water quality data in shaping evidence-based policies and strengthening public-private collaboration.
The partnership between Nestlé Nigeria and the federal government marks a major step toward achieving universal access to clean water, improved sanitation, and healthier living conditions across the nation.