NBC introduces water conservation clubs in schools

To further drive its water stewardship programme, the Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC), a member of the Coca-Cola Hellenic Group and bottler of Coca-Cola brands in Nigeria, has inaugurated Water Conservation Clubs in select secondary schools across the country.

Head, Public Affairs and Communications, NBC, Mr. Uzo Odenigbo, said the company was committed to establishing more clubs so as to recruit water ambassadors, who will partner with the company in propagating the message of safe water practices.

Addressing over 200 students from 10 public secondary schools, in its production facilities in Owerri and Kaduna to mark the United Nation’s World Water Day, Odenigbo said NBC was fully committed to sustainable partnerships and integrated approaches to solving water problems in its communities.

At the event, which theme was, “Water for Sustainable Development,” he noted that the task of conserving finite natural resources such as water was everybody’s responsibility.

While acknowledging that water forms a significant part of NBC’s operations, Odenigbo said the company’s water conservation initiatives among others, includes installation of Waste Water Treatment Plants in all its bottling plants across the country to ensure only water that can sustain aquatic and plant life is released back to the environment.

He said, “This year, we have gone a step further to ensure the sustainability of our awareness campaign on safe water practices with the students, by encouraging and supporting them to start Water Conservation Clubs in their schools.”

Managing Director of NBC, Mr. Ben Langat, in his remarks said, “The Water Conservation Clubs will further provide volunteering opportunities for our colleagues to donate their time and expertise to aid knowledge transfer on safe water practices among students in a sustainable way”.

Affirming NBC’s commitment to providing access to potable water for water-stressed communities under its water stewardship programme, he explained that NBC was working to “reduce, replenish and recycle” water in its operations. He called for multi-sectoral approach to tackling the challenges of access to fresh and potable water for Nigerians.

He further charged stakeholders to support the development and enforcement of policies that will provide sustainable potable water for all.

In addition, the students embarked on a guided tour of the company’s water treatment and effluent treatment plants to understudy water conservation initiatives of NBC with a view to replicating same in their schools and communities.