By Mustapha Salisu
Give Africa, a non-governmental organization focused on addressing water scarcity, emphasizes that access to water is a basic need, not a privilege reserved for the affluent.
Deborah Amuwa, a representative from Give Africa, highlighted this point on Thursday during a virtual luncheon, noting that “we often overlook the importance of water until it becomes unavailable.”
The event, themed “The Integral Role of Water in Community Development: Exploring Its Social and Economic Impacts,” saw Amuwa express concern over communities close to major cities experiencing severe water shortages.
She emphasized that this issue is central to the luncheon’s focus on Give Africa’s Build a Well initiative, which has provided nine wells and five boreholes in Northern Nigeria to improve access to clean water.
In his remarks, Mr. Khalil Halilu, founder of the Khalil Suleiman Halilu Foundation and Give Africa, explained that the organization aims to harness technology and community resources to drive positive change.
Halilu noted that Give Africa’s mission is to simplify giving by making it accessible and transparent, ensuring contributions reach the intended beneficiaries.
Also speaking, Clean Energy Specialist Edima Okodi, in her keynote address, stressed that “Water is Life,” lamenting that for many communities, access to clean water remains a luxury rather than a right.
She added that globally, one in three children under five lacks access to clean water, leading to diseases like cholera and diarrhoea. This underlines the critical role Give Africa plays in enabling healthier childhoods by providing closer access to water.
Okodi further noted that with climate change worsening water scarcity, sustainable practices such as conservation, rainwater harvesting, and efficient irrigation are essential alongside clean water access.
The luncheon included a panel discussion on “Water Accessibility in Relation to Education, Health, and Entrepreneurship,” which stressed the importance of bridging knowledge gaps on water management, operation costs, and maintenance to improve access to education and healthcare and support water-dependent businesses.
PRIME TIME NEWS gathers that Give Africa’s initiatives, which include Light Up, Plant a Tree, and Water Wells, have partnered with Global Shapers Kano and Water the Needy Foundation, resulting in the successful construction of nine wells and five boreholes to date.
