World Water Day 2023 Stakeholder Forum - Nestlé collaborates with Ogun State Ministry of Environment

 World Water Day 2023 Stakeholder Forum - Nestlé collaborates with Ogun State Ministry of Environment  

Oluwatoyin Mathnuel

INSIGHT GLOBAL NEWS 

Nestlé Nigeria and Ogun State Ministry of Environment hosted a stakeholders’ forum on 

22nd March to commemorate World Water Day 2023. Aimed at promoting sustainable 

water stewardship practices, the forum had over 400 stakeholders drawn from the public 

and private sectors across Ogun State.

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. Without access to water resources, communities 

are faced with higher risk of disease, food insecurity, environmental degradation, and 

economic decline.

The theme for this year’s event, “Accelerating Change”, draws attention to the need for

fast-tracking actions to solve the global water and sanitation crisis.

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”.

Wassim Elhusseini, MD/CEO Nestlé Nigeria PLC, 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. 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. Nestlé Nigeria is 

committed to protecting the environment for future generations and caring for water is 

one of the ways we do this. In line with this commitment, we work together with key 

stakeholders to address shared watershed challenges. We also continuously improve 

water efficiency across our operations and reduce water withdrawals in our factories by 

managing and reusing water”. 

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.   

About Nestlé Nigeria: 

Nestlé Nigeria is one of the largest food and beverage companies in Africa. For over 59 years, the 

company has been delighting consumers around Nigeria by consistently delivering high quality nutritious 

food. 

With a staff strength of over 2,200 direct employees, 3 manufacturing sites, 7 branch offices and a head 

office located in Lagos, the company produces and markets several iconic brands including NESTLÉ 

PURELIFE, GOLDEN MORN, MILO, MAGGI and NESCAFÉ.

Nestlé’s purpose is to unlock the power of food to enhance quality of life for everyone today and for 

generations to come.