Twenty five Nigerians are expected to win prizes in a nationwide hygiene challenge organised by Dettol Nigeria to encourage consumers to share their experiences with the brand and promote everyday hygiene habits.

The Dettol Original 12hrs Protection Challenge, which runs from July 13 to August 15, requires participants to create a 60 second video featuring a bar of Dettol Original Soap and share their personal Dettol story on Instagram.

According to the company, 25 participants will be selected as winners and receive prizes at the end of the challenge.

The competition is part of Dettol’s wider “12 Hour Protective Shield” campaign, which the company said seeks to encourage Nigerians to make hygiene a regular part of their daily routines.

Marketing Director, Reckitt West Africa, Boma Harrison, said Nigerians are regularly exposed to germs while commuting, working, attending school and carrying out other daily activities.

“Every day, Nigerians are exposed to germs as they commute, work, attend school and carry out their daily activities. The ’12 Hour Protective Shield’ campaign is our way of reminding and encouraging people to make hygiene a consistent part of their everyday routines,” Harrison said.

Harrison added that, according to the company, regular use of Dettol Original Soap supports the skin’s natural germ fighters for up to 12 hours.

The campaign comes during Nigeria’s rainy season, when flooding and contaminated water can increase the risk of waterborne diseases, including cholera and typhoid.

The company also cited data from the World Health Organization stating that proper hygiene can reduce diarrhoeal diseases by up to 30 per cent and acute respiratory infections by up to 17 per cent.

Dettol said the challenge also seeks to highlight personal experiences and memories associated with the brand while encouraging conversations around hygiene, protection and family wellbeing.