Guinness Nigeria Plc, a subsidiary of Diageo as part of its ‘Water of Life’ project partnered with WaterAid to provide a solar powered water facility in the D’ka community of Wasagu LGA, Kebbi State with the ultimate goal of ensuring sustainable access to water, sanitation and hygiene, while helping people take action to improve their health and well-being.

Guinness Nigeria and WaterAid Nigeria worked with the Kebbi State Government through the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) to provide inclusive access to clean water to an estimated 2,500 people in D’ka village and strengthening the capacity of the community.

In attendance of the commissioning were; Suleiman Shindi; Executive Chairman, Danko Wasagu LGA, Kebbi State, Lawal Gwandu; Director Water Supply, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA Kebbi), Assistant Director Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development Kebbi, Ahmed Tijani Umar; Director of Health Danko Wasagu LGA, Nasamu Samri; Director of Works Danko Wasagu LGA, Saleh Bahago Kanya; Director of Social Danko Wasagu LGA, Mallam Abubakar D’Ka; D’Ka Community leader, Dan Baba Abubakar; Danko Wasagu, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Coordinator and members of the community.

Speaking on the project, Demmo Ibrahim; Territory Manager Sokoto/Kebbi Guinness Nigeria Plc. representing Penni Vika; Head of Division North, Guinness Nigeria Plc., said “as part of our ongoing commitment to the communities in which we source, make or sell, and in contribution to the achievement of the UN Sustainable development Goal (SDG) 6 which focuses on clean water and sanitation, Guinness Nigeria has established several water schemes under the Diageo Africa Water of Life programme, a project that provides access to clean drinking water and socio-economic development.”

“Guinness Nigeria’s partnership with WaterAid and Kebbi State Government on this programme is in line with our company’s commitment to driving interventions that help more Nigerians access clean drinking water. We believe that water is a basic human right and our commitment remains unwavering in ensuring that people in underserved communities continue to have access to clean water,” he added.

Commending Guinness Nigeria for the provision of clean water to D’Ka Community; Suleiman Shindi; Executive Chairman, Danko Wasagu LGA, Kebbi State said “We say a big thank you to Guinness Nigeria and all the organizations that have come together to put together this water project for the progress of this community. I want to also call on the people of D’Ka community to thank these organizations going into rural areas to bring development and I urge you to support them and also thank the Kebbi state government for supporting this project.”

Gerald Ogoko; Co-ordinator Strategic Partnership and Grant Management WaterAid representing Dr. ChiChi Aniagolu-Okoye, Country Director WaterAid Nigeria, appreciated the continuous support of its partner Diageo Plc. According to him. “Diageo Plc. through their ‘Water of Life’ project continues to extend sustainable water services to hard to reach communities and marginalised members of the society. At WaterAid, equity and inclusion is a fundamental guiding principle in our effort to deliver clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. We are therefore excited at the opportunity to be part of the commissioning of this water facility provided to the people of D’Ka community with support from Diageo Plc.”

Members of the D’Ka community also expressed their gratitude to Guinness Nigeria and WaterAid for providing them with the water facility and attested that it will reduce their burden and improve their means of livelihood.

WaterAid has worked in Nigeria since 1995, partnering with the government and people of Nigeria to ensure sustainable access to water, sanitation and hygiene as well as utilising and strengthening local capacity to adequately provide quality technical assistance for water, sanitation and hygiene delivery and development in Nigeria.

The ‘Water of Life’ scheme is Guinness Nigeria’s flagship sustainable development programme. Since the launch of this scheme, Guinness Nigeria has provided safe drinking water to over 2 million Nigerians through approximately 22 water schemes across the country. These schemes are located in Abia, Rivers, Lagos, Ogun, Niger, Nassarawa, Edo, Benue, Oyo, Imo, Oyo, Ondo, Enugu, Ekiti, Kwara and Anambra states.