Nestle Turns Bottled Water To Behavioral Change

The launch of the Nestlé Water Quality Advocacy Campaign is more than a public relations exercise, it is a critical intervention that elevates water safety from a simple household chore to a fundamental pillar of national development and public health. In collaboration with the Organised Private Sector in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (OPS-WASH), Nestlé Waters has committed to a "national movement" aimed at closing the "knowledge gap around the invisible threats posed by contaminated water." 

This bold approach challenges the perspective that water quality is solely a government responsibility, positioning it as a collective security imperative that demands investment, transparency, and behavioral change across all segments of Nigerian society.

The Economic and Health Imperative

The campaign’s urgency is underscored by stark facts: contaminated water remains a leading cause of preventable diseases in Nigeria, carrying severe health and economic implications. As the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev (represented by Mrs. Elizabeth Ugoh), noted, water quality management is a top priority for the government's agenda, particularly in alignment with the SDG 6.3.2 goals.

Dr. . Nicholas Igwe, National Coordinator, OPS-WASH, drove the point home: "Water is life, yet millions of Nigerians are still unaware of the quality of the water they consume daily."

By prioritizing awareness and action, the campaign seeks to:

1. Reduce the Burden of Waterborne Diseases: Leading to a healthier, more productive population.

2. Ensure Transparent Monitoring: Promoting accountability for water sources across communities and industries.

3. Foster Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration: Mobilizing government, private sector, and communities for long-term sustainable solutions.

From Commitment to Action: The Nestlé Standard

Nestlé Waters is putting its global commitment on the line to set a new operational standard in Nigeria. Mr. Olatunji Olutayo, Business Executive Officer, Nestlé Waters, highlighted the goal for all Nestlé sites to be certified under the Alliance for Water Stewardship Standard by 2025.

This is the ultimate perspective-changer: a multinational corporation publicly commits to managing water use sustainably and responsibly, pushing the expectation for every home, business, and public institution to make water safety their priority.

As Victoria Uwadoka, Corporate Communications Lead at Nestlé Nigeria PLC, asserted, this initiative will provide the practical steps for individuals and communities to ensure safe water, aiming to turn awareness into a lasting change.

The Nestlé Water Quality Advocacy Campaign is not merely an advisory; it is a call for a paradigm shift. By demanding transparent quality monitoring and setting high global benchmark for responsible water stewardship, the initiative is transforming the conversation around water from a resource issue to a foundational element of national well-being and development.