From Water Scarcity to Renewed Hope: How BATN Foundation is Transforming Lives in Rural Jigawa

For more than 20 years, residents of Gidan Na-Ari Community in Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State struggled with access to clean and reliable water, forcing women and children to travel long distances daily to neighbouring communities in search of water.

Today, that challenge has been significantly reduced following the commissioning of a 20,000-litre Solar-powered borehole by the British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN). Foundation

Equipped with solar-powered pumping infrastructure, five water dispensing points and a backup manual hand pump for sustainability, the facility is providing residents with reliable access to potable water while improving health, productivity and quality of life.

Speaking on the impact of the intervention, the Village Head of Gidan Na-Ari, Abdulwahab Ya’u, recalled the hardship residents faced before the project.

“Before now, we normally travel several kilometres to fetch water from neighbouring communities. Our children and women suffered a lot before they could get water,” he said.

For BATN Foundation, the project is about more than providing infrastructure. According to Oludare Odusanya, General Manager of BATN Foundation, access to clean water is a critical driver of community development.

“Access to clean and reliable water is much more than a basic infrastructure need. It is a foundation for healthier families, stronger livelihoods and more productive communities,” he said.

Odusanya noted that improved water access allows women and children to redirect time previously spent searching for water towards more productive activities both at the nucleus end of families and at the community level.

The intervention is already creating ripple effects across the community. With water now readily available, residents can devote more time to farming, small businesses and other economic activities, while improved hygiene and sanitation practices are expected to reduce the incidence of water-borne diseases.

The borehole was commissioned by the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Jigawa State, on behalf of the Executive Governor of Jigawa State, Mallam Umar Namadi, FCA, who commended the initiative as a practical response to the needs of rural communities.

The commissioning ceremony attracted government officials, traditional leaders, development partners, and other stakeholders committed to improving rural livelihoods.

The project reflects BATN Foundation’s broader commitment to supporting sustainable rural development through community infrastructure, agricultural empowerment, enterprise development and livelihood enhancement initiatives.

For the people of Gidan Na-Ari, the true value of the new borehole extends beyond the water it provides. It represents improved health, greater economic opportunity, renewed dignity and the promise of a more prosperous future.