By Ajibola Adedoye
WaterAid Nigeria has officially closed out its three-year Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Improvement Project, funded by the PepsiCo Foundation, with a call on beneficiary communities, schools, and government authorities to ensure the sustainability of the interventions across Lagos State.
The event, held as a closeout meeting with key stakeholders, brought together representatives from the Lagos State Government, Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), education districts, community development committees (CDCs), and school management authorities.
The project, implemented across three LCDAs, provided sustainable access to clean water, improved sanitation, and hygiene education to thousands of residents and students in underserved communities.
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Speaking at the event, Dr. Adebayo Alao, Lagos State Lead of WaterAid, emphasized the organization’s commitment to maintaining high standards in all water interventions.
“If you treat to quality, you treat to standard. Once facilities are not built to standard, they fail easily,” Dr. Alao said. “That is why WaterAid has resolved to stop rehabilitating old boreholes we have no history of. Instead, we build new ones that meet required quality standards.”
Dr. Alao explained that the decision was informed by experiences showing that many previously existing boreholes had unknown drilling depths, poor-quality materials, or inadequate treatment systems, making maintenance difficult.
“Every community or school deserves facilities that meet the right standards. However, maintenance must be the responsibility of the beneficiaries,” he added. “That’s why we are involving state and local governments, school authorities, and community representatives—to ensure that everyone plays a role in sustaining what we have built.”
He further urged schools to appoint “hygiene champions” to promote proper sanitation practices among students, adding that children should be seen as change agents capable of influencing hygiene culture in society.
Mr. Godfrey Iloha, WaterAid Nigeria’s WASH Manager, outlined the project’s major achievements, highlighting that it had delivered on all four of its primary objectives.
“The PepsiCo-funded project provided access to safe water and sanitation, empowered women, promoted hygiene behavior change, and strengthened systems within the state,” Iloha said.
“We directly reached over 43,000 people through water and sanitation infrastructure, and more than 100,000 others through hygiene behavior campaigns.”
He noted that 35 female local area mechanics were trained to operate and maintain solar-powered water systems—empowering women economically and technically.
The project also supported the Lagos State Government in developing a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework, laying the groundwork for a state-level Management Information System (MIS) for WASH interventions.
“Sustainability is key. Communities must take ownership, protect facilities against vandalism, and continue to engage government for support,” he urged.
Community leaders from beneficiary LCDAs expressed gratitude for the project’s impact on schools and residents.
Prince Adeniran Ogunbanwo, CDC Chairman of Ikorodu North LCDA, lauded the transformation brought by the intervention.
“Before WaterAid came, there was nothing to write home about in those schools. Today, the facilities are functional and have brought relief to our communities,” he said.
“We have taken ownership of the projects. The council’s WASH department now monitors the facilities, and our female mechanics are on standby for maintenance.”
Similarly, Comrade Segun Fayemi, CDC Chairman of Ojodu LCDA, said the initiative improved collaboration between schools and communities.
“There’s now better synergy between the schools, administrators, and communities,” Fayemi noted. “The project has raised awareness about hygiene and even changed policies—for instance, principals no longer accept sanitary donations without verification from district authorities” Fayemi noted.
Dr. Kudirat Olubukunola Adeyemi, Environmental Officer for Education District VI, said the interventions significantly enhanced the learning environment in beneficiary schools.
“The improved toilet and water facilities at Academia Junior Grammar School and Odundu Junior High School have increased punctuality and attendance. Students now have access to clean, functional conveniences, which has boosted concentration and learning outcomes,” she said.
Dr. Adeyemi, delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary of District VI, Mrs. Yusuf Mojisola Christiana, also appealed for the continuation and expansion of the partnership.
“While this is a closeout event, we believe the PepsiCo–WaterAid collaboration should be renewed and extended to more schools,” she stated.
Grace Uwadiale, WaterAid’s WASH Officer, emphasized the importance of sustaining the facilities and structures built through the project.
“We’ve established local WASH structures such as community WASH committees and school Environmental Health Clubs. These systems are meant to ensure long-term maintenance and sustainability. We don’t want to take over government’s role. Our goal is to influence policy and encourage government to replicate and scale up these models across other communities and institutions” she explained
Dr. Alao also revealed that while PepsiCo Foundation’s support has ended, discussions are ongoing with DP World, another global donor, to continue advancing WaterAid’s large-scale water supply initiatives targeting up to 1 million people in the future.
Over the past three years, the WaterAid–PepsiCo partnership has proven that strategic collaboration, community ownership, and system strengthening can drive lasting improvements in public health and education.
As the project closes, stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining its legacy—ensuring that every community continues to enjoy the benefits of safe water, improved sanitation, and hygiene for all.
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