CSR: Nestle Unveils Water Facility for Maderegi Residents

Maryann Abii in Abuja

The Country Business Manager, Nestle Waters Nigeria, Mr. Jason Lambe, has unveiled a new water facility to serve Maderegi village and its environs in Abaji Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, recently, Lambe, said the new facility, which is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), will provide access to safe and clean drinking water for 1,000 villagers.

According to him, local communities play important roles in assisting the company achieve its objectives in its long years of operations in the country. The new facility, he said, is Nestle Waters’ second community water facility in the country, adding that the first one is located in Agbara, Ogun State, South-west of the country.

On its contribution to healthy hydration, he said: “We are committed to helping people lead healthier lives as water is surely the best way to fulfill daily hydration needs. We have pledged globally to water stewardship in an effort to adopt sustainable water practices, especially in areas where we source our goods, where our factories are located and where our consumers and suppliers live.”

Also, as part of its commitment to water stewardship, Nestle has partnered the project WET foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) to develop hydration teaching modules aimed at raising awareness about the importance of proper hydration to children.
He said the company earlier in the year, launched project WET in 25 schools in Abaji to help teachers raise aware about wearer conservation and proper hydration among school children.

According to him, 1,200 pupils and 75 teachers were impacted in Abaji, while in 2016, 8000 students, 330 teachers in 140 schools, in Lagos, Ogun Osun and Abaji benefitted from the programme.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Mrs. Rabi Jimeta, who was represented by the Director of Hydrology, Mr. John Ochigbo, said government appreciates Nestle’s efforts in its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) through its setting up of water facilities in different parts of the country.
According to her, studies have proven that Nigeria has estimated water resource potential of over 375 billion cubic metres.

She said the vast quantities of the country’s water resources are held in the small and large dams that if well utilised will provide reliable and affordable hydro-electricity, job creation opportunities, food productivity and will in turn improve the quality of lives of Nigerians.

Jimeta said: “You will agree with me that the present economic recession is negatively impacting on the government’s capacity to achieve her vision for infrastructural development due to the dwindling revenue. It is against this backdrop that government seeks partnership with the private sector in the provision of services for every Nigerian.”

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