World Water Day 2023 -Nestlé Nigeria educates children on water stewardship
WWD Agbara – (L – R) Sola Ogunbor, Program Manager, Ogun State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency; Edidiong Peters, Public Affairs Specialist, Nestlé Nigeria PLC; Ibukun Ipinmoye, Factory Manager, Nestlé Agbara Factory; Joy Abdullahi-Johnson, Marketing and Category Manager, Nestlé Waters and Olawale Alao, Plant Manager, Nestlé Waters, Nestlé Agbara Factory
World Water Day 2023 -Nestlé Nigeria educates children on water stewardship
In commemoration of World Water Day 2023,Nestlé Nigeria took the message of
responsible water management to over160 children and teachers from public and private primary schools,in collaboration withthe Ogun State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency and the FCT Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency.
The events included a tour of the company’s water plants in Agbara, Ogun State and Abaji, in the Federal Capital Territory. Activities included games to help the childreninculcate the right habitsin the way they use, consume,and manage water, to help them become better stewards of this precious resource.
World Water Day is an annualUnited Nations observance to raise awareness about the importance of water and the impact of our actions on preserving this scarce resource today, and for future generations. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Accelerating Change”.
Cross section of participating children at both locations.
Joy Abdullahi-Johnson, Marketing and Category Manager for NestléWaters Nigeria said, “Water is the most critical natural resourcefor human survival, after air. It therefore needs to be managed in a way that is equitable, environmentally sustainable and economically beneficial. With the increasing pressure on our water resources, we all need to work together to preservethis vital resource we all depend on”.
“At Nestlé, we believe thatequipped with the right information, children can become good stewards of the environment from an eary age. We are therefore excited to be at the forefront of efforts to educate these young ones today”, she added.
In his commentsat the Agbara factory, Mr Sola Ogunbor, the Program Manager Ogun
State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency,said, “World Water Day is another
opportunity toemphasis the need for daily consumption of clean water in adequate
amounts for optimal hydration and healthy living. Children can contribute to accelerating the needed change by adopting new behaviours onhow they use, consume,and manage water in their daily activities, to avoid wastage of this precious resource”.
On her part,Chinyelu Obrike, Head,Water Supply, FCT Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency saidwhile speaking at the Nestlé’s factory in Abajisaid,“Every action,no matter how small,will make a difference. Children are agents of change. They are quick to learn and eager to pass across messages learnt to their friends, parents, teachers and peers.
This educationa advocacy will bring rapid transformative change needed to fast-track the achievement of SDG 6 –water and sanitation for all. We are happy to be collaborating with Nestlé Nigeria onthislaudable initiative”.
Esther Samuel,a primary 5 pupilof Salvation Army School 1 Agbara, said, “I am very happy to be part of this event. I really enjoyed the tour of the factory. I have learnt a lot about how to use and conserve water, and not waste it. I am ready to practice what I have
been taught at homeand I will definitely teach my siblings and friends all I have learnt. I want to thank Nestlé and my school for giving me this interesting experience”.
Nestlé Nigeria is committed to protecting the environment for future generations. Caring for water is one of the ways we do this. We reach over 8,000 children annually with information on healthy hydration and water conservation throughtheNestlé for Healthier Kidsinitiative, a school-based nutrition education program.
We also work withstakeholders and partners to increase access to clean, safe water, sanitation, andhygiene facilities(WASH) for individuas and families as wel as teachers and students in schoolswithin our communities.
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