Mainstream Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited (MESL), has provided over 230 water boreholes as critical needs of communities in Niger, Kwara, Kano, Kaduna and Edo states, among others.
MESL is the concessionaire of Kainji, Jebba and the new Zungeru hydropower plants in Niger State.
Speaking to mark the World Water Day celebrated on 22nd March, the foundation’s Programme Manager, Mr Omeiza Okumoh, said the provision of water is seen as a critical need in communities and the foundation delivers facilities to provide potable water and curb water-borne diseases.
World Water Day is part of activities to push for the attainment of global access to clean water as Goal Six of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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He said, “To us, our borehole projects are treated as an emergency and critical need in our catchment areas and other places of need. So far, we have done over 230 boreholes around communities and each is about 10,000-litre capacity in every locality.”
Mainstream Foundation also partners with agencies like Rotary Club to execute some of the borehole projects outside the catchment areas like Kano, Edo and Kaduna states.
Okumoh also said the foundation provides relief items and empowers people. For instance, IDPs in Zungeru town three years ago before MESL recently won a concession for the new power plant, making Zungeru a new catchment area for more projects.
“We also executed various medical outreaches in those communities to treat residents who had been exposed to water-borne diseases especially eye problems, before we provided them with potable borehole water,” Okumoh said.