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General News

Guinness, Concern Universal Unveil Water, Sanitation Projects

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(L-r): Sesan Sobowale, corporate relations director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Tim Kellow, country director Nigeria, Concern Universal and Osita Abana, Sustainable Development Manager, Guinness Nigeria Plc at the media briefing to showcase the Guinness Nigeria/Concern Universal Safe Water and Improved Sanitation and Hygiene (SWISH) Project in Cross River State.
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Guinness Nigeria Plc, an integral part of Diageo, has partnered with Concern Universal to pioneer a sustainable method of integrating rural sanitation and hygiene promotion with access to safe water.

This novel approach which strengthens the 10 year-old Diageo Water of Life project is being implemented by Concern Universal in 10 communities across three local government areas of Cross River State. 

Inadequate access to safe water and sanitation, coupled with poor hygiene practices, causes the spread of deadly, yet easily preventable, diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, and typhoid.

In Nigeria, where one quarter of the population practice open defecation, over 150,000 children under the age of five die each year from diarrhoea alone. Together, improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are responsible for preventing up to 90% of diarrhoeal diseases.

Sesan Sobowale, corporate relations director, Guinness Nigeria Plc said “Guinness Nigeria recognizes that millions of people still do not have access to clean and safe water. 1 in 5 people around the world cannot access safe drinking water; and in Nigeria, 63 million people do not have access to clean water. This is why Guinness Nigeria and the Diageo Foundation teamed up with Concern Universal to provide clean water for rural communities in Cross River State. Our partnership leverages our collective strengths to help beneficiary communities improve their water, sanitation, and hygiene, and ultimately, their health.”

Guinness Nigeria’s partnership with Concern Universal supports the Rural Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion in Nigeria (RUSHPIN) programme by providing access to safe water in villages that have achieved open defecation free status in Cross River State.

The partnership’s key innovation is its careful sequencing of water points with RUSHPIN’s community-led, behaviour change approach.

It ensures that the provision of water points complements, rather than undermines, the critical behavior change process, hand-pump boreholes are only provided once communities sustainably end open defecation.

New water points are then maintained by inclusive ‘Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Committees’, each with 50% female membership, who are provided a toolbox, set of spare parts, and intensive hands-on training in borehole repair in the case of future breakdowns.

Committee members are also facilitated to develop their own water management plans, including financing future repairs and conserving water during drier seasons.

Tim Kellow, Concern Universal’s Country Director, explained how “this approach, which carefully sequences demand-led sanitation & hygiene behaviour change with participatory water management, is creating a model for the WASH sector,in Nigeria and beyond, to ensure that the introduction of water points works in tandem with sanitation and hygiene promotion to prevent killer diseases, such as diarrhoea”.

Osita Abana, Sustainable Development Manager, Guinness Nigeria, remarked on the project’s impact in Cross River State: “During my visit to beneficiary communities, I was inspired to see firsthand, the positive impact the Guinness/Concern Universal partnership is already making. Families who used to fetch water from streams now have easy access to clean water. Communities have also adopted proper hygiene habits that will limit the spread of preventable diseases like diarrhea and cholera.”

Through the partnership’s pilot project, Guinness Nigeria and Concern Universal helped 6,000 people in ten communities to access safe drinking water.

In addition, 120 community members have been trained in basic borehole maintenance and water resource management.

Guinness Nigeria Plc was established in 1950, making it one of the oldest companies in Nigeria. Listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 1965, and with a shareholder base of over 75,000 shareholders, it is also one of the foremost quoted companies in Nigeria.

The company built its first brewery in Ikeja in 1962, and currently has facilities in Ogba, Benin City and Aba.

Diageo Plc is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits, beer and wine categories.

These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Buchanan’s and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world.

Also, Concern Universal, an international Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) with 14 years of experience in Nigeria, is the executing agency of the Rural Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion in Nigeria (RUSHPIN) programme.

RUSHPIN is a five-year initiative of the United Nation’s Global Sanitation Fund and the Nigerian government which uses the empowering ‘Community-led Total Sanitation’ approach to trigger community-wide demand for improved sanitation and hygiene without the use of external subsidies.

Through the programme, over 2 million rural people in Cross River and Benue states are taking control of their own health by ending open defecation and washing their hands with soap at critical times.


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Tech-driven Solutions Receive Commendation @ Maiden Insurance Week Hackathon

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Mrs Yetunde Ilori, President of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), has commended the innovative and technology-driven solutions presented during the institute’s maiden Insurance Week Hackathon competition.

Ilori gave the commendation after the completion of the competition on Thursday in Lagos, held at the College of Insurance and Financial Management in Asese, Ogun, as part of the Insurance Week organised by the CIIN.

She described the solutions as crucial to the industry’s transformation and relevance in the digital age. “This shows that the future is bright for the Nigerian insurance industry.

We are transforming as an industry, and digital innovation is at the heart of that transformation,” Ilori said. She noted that 19 teams initially applied for the competition, but only six were shortlisted.

The competition, which targeted young Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 29, engaged six finalist teams over a fourweek intensive innovation process, culminating in a demo day on Wednesday in Lagos.

The hackathon focused on real-world challenges in the sector, such as inclusive insurance, fraud detection, risk management, and improving customer experience.

It was designed to cultivate the next generation of insurance innovators, deepen insurance awareness, and promote financial literacy among Nigerians.

The teams that participated in the final stage of the competition were: Ifokanbale, Insurbridge, Insurvate, Team Aegis, Team Phoenix, and The Assured Team. Team Aegis developed “Hustle Guard,” a microinsurance solution for tricycle drivers covering health, life, and income, in an effort to demystify micro insurance in Nigeria.

The Assured Team presented “Kolo Plus by Card,” an unstructured savings plan with payment and interest features tailored to low-income earners. Team Insurbridge created “Smarter Claims,” a solution aimed at improving the insurance claims process.

Team Phoenix introduced “HerShield,” a solution focused on empowering women and building trust in the insurance sector. The Assured Team also developed additional ideas to drive insurance penetration in underserved and informal communities.

After an engaging pitch session before a panel of judges, Team Insurvate emerged as the overall winner with its solution, “Claim Central”, an end-to-end digital platform designed to streamline the insurance claims process from policyholders to insurers.

Team Aegis secured second place, while Team Phoenix came in third. The panel of judges included financial sector experts such as Norah Igwe, Tunji Andrews, Diana Mulili, Sakeenat Bakare, Ibraheem Babalola, and Prince Adeshina Adeyemi-Doro.

Also speaking, Mr Eddie Efekoha, Chairman of the Insurance Week, said the hackathon demonstrated a conscious effort to explore how technology can help distribute insurance products to all parts of the country.

“We believe this initiative will spark more interest among the youth to engage with insurance, not just as consumers but as creators and innovators,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the winning team, Mr Odunayo Ojeremi, leader of Team Insurvate, described the competition as highly competitive and rewarding. “We are excited and grateful for the opportunity.

“We didn’t expect to win, but we are glad our solution was recognised. We hope to improve ‘Claim Central’ and make it a platform that ensures seamless claims processing,” he said.


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Enugu Air Commences Operations Today

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Enugu State-owned commercial airline, Enugu Air, is set to officially launch its operations today Monday, July 7, 2025. The launch ceremony will take place at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, with the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, expected to attend alongside other dignitaries, according to a statement from the airline.

Dr Obi Ozor, Commissioner for Transportation, Enugu State, said Enugu Air is a key component of Governor Peter Mbah’s vision for a modern, integrated transportation system, aimed at positioning Enugu as a major aviation hub in Nigeria.

The airline will begin operations with a fleet of three Embraer jets, from the E170 and E190 series, chosen for their performance, passenger comfort, and suitability for regional routes.

The airline’s inaugural routes will form a strategic triangular operation connecting Enugu, Abuja, and Lagos, with plans to expand services to Port Harcourt, Owerri, Benin, Kano, and other key cities across Nigeria and beyond.

Ozor said, “With a strong foundation built on innovation and sustainability, Enugu Air is poised to transform regional air travel, boost state pride, and raise Enugu’s profile nationally and globally.”

The launch of Enugu Air is expected to have a significant impact on the aviation industry in Nigeria, providing more options for air travel and promoting economic development in the region.

With its modern fleet and strategic routes, Enugu Air is set to revolutionize air travel in Nigeria and establish Enugu as a major player in the country’s aviation sector.

 


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Cybervergent Selected as World Economic Forum’s 2025 Technology Pioneer Company

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In affirmation of its global standing, Cybervergent, a Pan-African technology company that leverages artificial intelligence to transform how organisations manage risk, governance, privacy, and cybersecurity, has been selected as one of the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Technology Pioneers for 2025—a global cohort spotlighting companies transforming industries through breakthrough technologies and responsible innovation.

The WEF, an international organisation committed to improving the state of the world through public-private collaboration, brings together global leaders to shape economic, technological, and societal agendas. Cybervergent now joins this global community.

The company is recognized for its innovative approach to building digital trust, reimagining how organisations manage cybersecurity, risk, privacy and governance.

Commenting on the company’s milestone, Adetokunbo Omotosho, CEO of Cybervergent, said, “I am honoured that Cybervergent has been named a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum. This is more than an accolade — it’s a validation of our commitment to redefining cybersecurity, privacy, and risk management to build true digital trust.

“What makes this recognition even more meaningful is the fact that Cybervergent demonstrates innovation in AI and infrastructure can emerge from any region, challenging conventional perceptions.”

Some past recipients of the Technology Pioneer recognition, including Google, Spotify, and Airbnb have gone on to fundamentally reshape global industries.

As a member of the 2025 Technology Pioneers community, Cybervergent will be contributing to discussions shaping cybersecurity, AI, and cyber resilience across industries and the global digital economy.


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