World Water Day 2023: Nestlé, Ogun Restate Commitments to Improved Water Efficiency, Access

World Water Day 2023: Nestlé, Ogun Restate Commitments to Improved Water Efficiency, Access

Nestlé Nigeria said it remains committed to protecting the environment for future generations through improved care for water.

THECONSCIENCEng reports that the foremost food and nutrition company added that it has continuously partnered key stakeholders to address shared challenges in line with the commitment.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum on Wednesday to commemorate World Water Day 2023, Wassim Elhusseini, MD/CEO Nestlé Nigeria PLC, who was represented by Category and Marketing Manager Nestlé Waters, Joy Abdullahi-Johnson, said, “We are delighted to have this opportunity to celebrate World Water Day 2023 in collaboration with the Ogun State Ministry of Environment.

Read MORE: Nestlé Nigeria receives two awards at LaPRIGA 2022

The theme for this year, “Accelerating Change” is very significant in view of our shared commitment to increase access to clean, safe water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities (WASH) within our communities.”

The Nestlé boss also assured that the company would continuously improve water efficiency across operations areas and reduce water withdrawals in its factories by
managing and reusing water.

The forum which was aimed at promoting sustainable water stewardship practiced had over 400 stakeholders drawn from the public and private sectors across Ogun State.

The World Water Day is a United Nations’ observance day to raise awareness about the inaccessibility of water for billions of people globally and to advocate the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

L-R Hon. Ayoola Oluajo, Vice Chairman, Abeokuta North Local Government; Mrs. Joy Abdullahi-Johnson, Marketing and Category Manager, Nestlé Waters; Engr. Razak Ojetola, Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Ministry of Environment; Otunba Olufemi Odumosu, Managing Director, Ogun Oshun River Basin Development Authority and Dr Oladimeji Oresanya, Ogun State Commissioner for Environment.

Without access to water resources, communities are faced with higher risk of disease, food insecurity, environmental degradation, and economic decline.

In his own remarks, Oladimeji Oresanya, Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, said, “The event today is not just another talk show, but an opportunity for productive engagement with all stakeholders to undertake a critical diagnosis of issues affecting the sector to proffer practical and sustainable solutions.

Be assured that the Ministry is committed to accelerating positive change in the water sector to ensure water and sanitation for all in line with Sustainable Development Goal 6.

I commend companies who have embraced water stewardship and are executing initiatives and projects, towards sustainable water management and governance in
the state”.

Delivering the keynote lecture, the Managing Director, Ogun Oshun River Basin Development Authority, Otunba Olufemi Odumosu said, “Water is essential to life, but water stress threatens supplies. Providing access to safe water is one of the most effective instruments for poverty
alleviation and reduction.

This year’s theme emphasizes the need to speed up action towards sustainable management of this limited resource, with only 7 years left to achieve the SDGs”.

According to Sola Ogunbor, the Program Manager, Ogun State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, “Mismanagement of water resources today will cost everyone a lot more in the future. Accelerating change entails making a difference by taking small steps in the right direction, being the change we want to see in the world.

Our Agency is committed to ensuring
that more people in our rural communities in Ogun State have unrestricted access to safely managed water and sanitation facilities”.

The World Water Day 2023 celebration included the second edition of the roundtable discourse on “Water Governance in Ogun State – Progress so far, Challenges and Roadmap”.

Panelists from the private and public sectors in Agbara and Sagamu comprised Nestlé Nigeria PLC, Apple and Pears, Ogun State Ministry of Environment, Ogun State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Ogun Oshun River Basin Development Authority and the Nigerian Institute of Water Engineers.

Water is a shared and precious resource that affects everyone. It is the most critical natural resource for human survival, after air. Yet, globally, billions of people do not have access to clean and safe water.

An estimated 100 million Nigerians still lack basic sanitation facilities and 63 million do not have access to improved sources of drinking-water.

With the increasing pressure on our water resources, we all need to work together to
preserve this vital resource we all depend on. Consistent multi-stakeholder action is
required to accelerate change in how we manage this resource to improve access and quality for today while preserving it for future generations.