The community of Akute Odo in Nigeria celebrated a significant milestone on June 16th as they received a clean water system from the clean water advocacy and water poverty alleviation charity, Hope Spring. The NGO, based in Herefordshire, completed the project within a remarkable four-week period.
The timing of the handover was crucial, as neighboring communities had been struggling with multiple cholera outbreaks due to contaminated water sources. Cholera, a deadly bacterial infection, can be easily spread through contaminated water, making access to clean water a critical issue for communities in developing countries.
The clean water system was made possible through the partnership between Hope Spring and several other organizations, including Ozami online cards. The system consists of an 80-meter deep borehole, equipped with a submersible pump that supplies water to a 4,000-liter tank. The tank, located on a four-meter tall scaffolding, uses gravity to distribute water through four standpipes in a designated fetching area.
For years, the community of Akute Odo had been trying to construct a community borehole but had been unable to secure the necessary funds. The 180-member community reached out to Hope Spring for help, and the NGO responded by proposing a partnership to construct a borehole in their community. This resulted in the successful completion of the first-ever borehole in the community’s history.
Dr. Rahmat Adebisi, the director of Hope Spring in Nigeria, expressed her satisfaction with the completion and handover of the project during the ceremony. “We are very pleased to have completed and handed over this project to the community of Akute Odo. It will significantly improve their health and hygiene, especially with reports of cholera in nearby communities,” she said. Dr. Rahmat also extended her gratitude to Mr. Luqman Adekola, who helped fund the project.
The leaders of Akute Odo also expressed their gratitude during the handover ceremony, thanking everyone who made the water project possible. They were particularly grateful that the time spent by women and children in the community to fetch clean water daily can now be used for more productive activities.
The Akute Odo project marks the fourth clean water project completed by Hope Spring in 2024. More information about their projects can be found on their website and social media pages.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.