Lagos — Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Plc has continued to support the United Nations' (UN) campaign for access to fresh water resources at this year's World Water Day. By doing this, the company has engaged students as ambassadors for clean water.

NBC, the franchise bottler for Coca-Cola products in Nigeria has collaborated with States Ministry of Health and Local Governments to actualize the laudable water project.

In strategic activities to mark the day across the country, the NBC hosted over 450 students across its bottling facilities in Abuja, Enugu, Owerri, Maiduguri, Apapa and Ikeja as it is gradually taking the lead roles in the global initiative. Entitled, "Clean Water for a Healthy World," This year's Day afforded students the opportunities to show themselves as change agents for cleaner water and a healthier planet.

Head, Public Affairs and Communications of the Company, Mrs. Yanju Olomola said NBC as a business that utilizes water in its production process places a high priority on water issues. "We place premium in the area of access to clean, safe and portable water. This is organized under our Corporate Social Responsibility principles as the 'Water Stewardship' programme," she explained.

At the Apapa plant, Mr. Gbenga Lukan, the Plant Manger of NBC said the company's approach to promoting clean and safe water for all Nigerians through its water stewardship programme included, using clean treated water for beverage production; improving water efficiency through investments in water saving technologies; recycling water for house keeping and recycling waste water from operations through Effluent Treatment Plants to a level that supports aquatic life before discharging into the environment as well as strategic partnerships for sustainable water management.

The Plant Manager tasked the students to "volunteer as ambassadors for water issues to make a positive difference in the lives of people in need of safe and clean water." He therefore encouraged them to share the knowledge they acquired with family, friends, neighbours and communities.

The Company's Quality Assurance Manager, Mrs. Mary Elobike explained to the people how the Nigerian public can contribute to ensuring clean water and a healthy country. According to her, some of the tips include: "Do not leave taps running without use, don't dump refuse into drainages, report burst pipe in your neighborhoods to local authorities, clean up spills from chemicals without rinsing into the street and mobilize your community to ensure periodic cleaning of drains," among others.

In his own address, the Environmental Health Officer, Ikeja local council, Ahoton James at the Ikeja leg of the event, commended NBC for its concerted efforts to ensure clean water and a healthy environment. He said the NBC's massive investments like Effluent Treatment Plants have yielded high returns in ensuring a healthy ecosystem and human society. He revealed that the local government is enthralled to collaborate with NBC on the project and ensure that students make the most of their ambassadorial appointment on water. The World Water Day is an initiative that grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro. It is an annual event coordinated by the UN to raise awareness on access to fresh water.