At the WASH Innovation Challenge, five Nigerian startups receive N17.5 million.

Five Nigerian startups have been given N17.5 million to develop novel solutions to the country’s Water Sanitation Hygiene (WASH) issues.

Green Cycle, SPARKLING Light, SCHRODINgER, and Tech Retreasure are the five new businesses. During the WASH Hackathon Innovation Fair 2.0 in Lagos, each of them received N3.5 million and a mentorship program for four months.

Promoting novel concepts:

The Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, said in a keynote address at the event that the WASH challenge is a great way for entrepreneurs and innovators to show off their ideas.

“I hope that these ideas and projects will come to fruition so that startups can help fill in the gaps that have been identified for more efficient sector intervention.”
The theme of this year’s fair, “innovation for sustainable growth in the sector,” is timely given certain concerns about the lack of access to safe water. He added, “It is also a critical condition in the development of the nation’s economy.”
He says that WASH is a big part of the country’s economy and that it’s important to take advantage of global opportunities to solve problems in the industry. According to him, the area unquestionably provides a wealth of opportunities for investment, job creation, and the reduction of poverty.

The Minister expressed the hope that the startups’ solutions would strengthen the national WASH action plan and complement other national initiatives, such as the 2016 launch of preparedness to expand the water supply, sanitation, and hygiene.

Putting an end to open feces in Nigeria:

Dapo Otunla, the Chief Corporate Service Officer of IHS Nigeria, also gave a speech at the event. He said that the company was committed to putting an end to open defecation by 2025. Otunla stated that 13 mechanized solar boreholes had been installed throughout communities and that 3,000 books on open defecation had been donated to communities across Nigeria.

He claims that the effort to accomplish the goals of the WASH initiative has had an impact on approximately 138 communities and more than 18000 lives.

Dr. Jane Beva, Chief WASH Unicef Nigeria, in her technical presentation emphasized the WASH initiative’s difficulties. Beva emphasized, among other things, the effects of improper household and industrial waste management on the environment, water, the land, and the air.

Things you ought to know:

The 2023 WASH Innovation Challenge and Incubation Programme aims to provide ideas, evaluation funding, and other support to WASH innovators and early-stage businesses.

As per the coordinators of the test, around 118 applications were gotten out of which 80 new companies were shortlisted for a training camp and 20 got to the finals where the five victors arose.