Nestlé Launches National Water Quality Advocacy Campaign

Nestlé Waters has launched the Nestlé Water Quality Advocacy Campaign, a bold initiative to raise nationwide awareness on the importance of safe and quality water across Nigeria. The campaign, developed in collaboration with the Organised Private Sector in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (OPS-WASH), seeks to close the knowledge gap around the invisible threats posed by contaminated water.

Through this initiative, Nestlé Waters and OPS-WASH are extending the conversation on water quality to all levels of society—from policymakers and businesses to schools and grassroots communities—encouraging urgent collective action to protect the nation’s water sources.

Speaking at the launch event in Abuja, Mr. Olatunji Olutayo, Business Executive Officer, Nestlé Waters and Premium Beverages, reaffirmed the company’s long-standing commitment to quality and sustainability.

“Nestlé Waters is committed to high-level water stewardship across its operations. By 2025, all our sites will be certified under the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Standard, underscoring our dedication to sustainable water use, community engagement, and watershed management,” he said.

He added that the campaign’s objectives include promoting universal access to safe water, ensuring transparent monitoring and accountability, driving multi-stakeholder collaboration, and enabling long-term sustainable solutions.

Dr. Nicholas Igwe, National Coordinator, OPS-WASH, emphasized the urgency of the campaign:

“Water is life, yet millions of Nigerians remain unaware of the quality of the water they consume daily. This campaign goes beyond awareness—it empowers people with the knowledge and tools to protect their health by safeguarding water sources.”

Delivering the keynote address, the Honourable Minister of Water Resources & Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, represented by Mrs. Elizabeth Ugo, stressed government’s commitment to improving water quality and welcomed private sector partnerships in addressing water-related challenges.

“Contaminated water is still one of the leading causes of preventable diseases in Nigeria. This advocacy comes at a critical time, aligning with our national drive to ensure every Nigerian has access to clean and safe water,” he noted.

Goodwill messages from the Ministers of Environment and Health praised Nestlé Waters and OPS-WASH for spearheading the campaign, recognizing its potential to accelerate progress towards SDG 6.3.2 – improving water quality nationwide.

Victoria Uwadoka, Corporate Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainability Lead, Nestlé Nigeria PLC, described the campaign as a long-term national movement:

“This is not a one-off programme—it is the beginning of a movement. Our goal is to turn awareness into action, ensuring that quality water becomes a conscious aspiration and reality for every Nigerian.”

The Nestlé Water Quality Advocacy Campaign reinforces Nestlé Nigeria’s sustainability commitments while supporting OPS-WASH’s mission to mobilize the private sector in advancing water, sanitation, and hygiene goals. Together, both organisations are calling on government, civil society, businesses, and individuals to play their part in ensuring that safe, quality water becomes a universal standard in Nigeria.

The launch event was attended by government officials, representatives from the Federal Ministries of Environment and Health, and members of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), among other stakeholders.