By Abdulrahman Kadiri
The University of Uyo Microfinance Bank (Uniuyo MfB) has unveiled a loan facility – WashLoan – to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene for residents in the university community and its immediate environs.
The Managing Director of the MFB, Dr Millicent Idiong, said on Thursday that the initiative aimed at enhancing access to safe water for the residents.
According to her, the unveiling of the loan facility by the MFB was in partnership with Water-org, a leading civil advocacy group committed to improved water access globally, was held at the university in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.
She said the initiative was in collaboration with the National Association of Microfinance Banks (NAMB), the umbrella body of all MFBs in Nigeria.
”Access to clean water and proper sanitation is not a luxury, as it is a basic human right; however, in many households, schools, and small businesses in our communities, these rights remain out of reach,” Idiong said.
She explained that through the Washloan initiative Uniuyo MFB is saying clearly that no family should struggle for safe water, no child should learn in an unsafe environment, and that no community should be left behind because of lack of sanitation.
Idiong thanked Water.org and NAMB for partnering with the bank to expand access to safe water and sanitation in the tertiary institution.
She explained that the partnership aligned with Uniuyo MFB’s mission as a development focused financial institution – to use finance as a tool for transformation, not just profit.
“The WashLoan has been carefully designed to be affordable, flexible and accessible, supporting individuals, households, schools, landlords and water related businesses to invest in sustainable water and sanitation solutions.
”By providing this financing, we are not just supporting infrastructure, we are supporting health, dignity, productivity, and community resilience.”
In his remarks, the Senior Relationship Account Manager at Water.org, Gilbert Okpono, said: “The launch of this Wash loan product by Uniuyo MFB provides a beacon of hope of universal access to safe water and sanitation for the state and country.
”Through this innovative finance solution, households and SMEs would be supported in a sustainable manner.”
The National President of NAMB, Alhaji Abubakar Ahmad, noted the enormous benefits of the initiative to millions of people in the university and its environs
Ahmad described the WashLoan product initiative “as a testament of the spirit of collaboration in improving hygiene and health for our teeming clients and communities.”
He maintained that NAMB was “seeking more partnerships to deliver more sustainable, life impacting practices to its customers and communities.”(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Isaac Aregbesola
