Foundation Commissions Water Project for Community in Akwa-Ibom

A non-profit organization, the Queen Mother’s Empowerment Foundation (QMEF), has donated and commissioned a clean water project for the residents of Ikot Obio Inyang community in Etinan Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.

The intervention by the foundation came after decades of water scarcity and reliance on unsafe sources by the community.

The project, which was commissioned on Saturday, is said to be part of QMEF’s contribution to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on clean water and sanitation.

According to a statement made available via the NGO’s official Facebook handle, the project aims to improve the health and well-being of residents who have endured years of hardship accessing safe water.

Before the intervention, villagers, particularly women and girls, travelled long distances daily in search of water, often returning with murky and contaminated supplies filled with leeches, leading to a range of health issues.

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The newly installed facility, powered by a generating set also donated by the Foundation, now provides the community with clean, safe, and accessible water. The commissioning ceremony was done by Mrs Otu, QMEF’s Financial Coordinator and an indigene of the community, who played a key role in facilitating the project.

At the commissioning, Community representatives expressed deep appreciation for the gesture, noting its symbolic and practical impact.

The representatives who highlighted the importance of the project being facilitated by a female indigenous person said it reflects how the education of girls, once a rarity in the village, has now begun to yield tangible benefits for the entire community.

They pledged to protect the facility and ensure it is maintained for sustainable use.

Dr. Ukeme Umoren, Chairperson of QMEF, expressed her satisfaction with the project’s completion and commended the community for their support throughout the implementation process.

She emphasized the Foundation’s commitment to grassroots development and reiterated the importance of clean water as a basic human right and a catalyst for improved public health.

Also speaking at the event, QMEF’s Akwa Ibom State Program Officer, Dr Emmanuel Umoh, thanked the community for their cooperation and assured that the Foundation would continue to implement projects that promote development, equity, and social inclusion.

He also outlined other QMEF initiatives, including advocacy against gender-based violence, scholarships for children from low-income families, food support for vulnerable women, and empowerment programs for persons with disabilities.