"Before the African Development Bank-funded water project, pupils had to walk over one kilometer to fetch water for meals, drinking, and cleaning," said headmasters

During his visit to Lesotho on Monday, African Development Bank Group President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina turned a routine tour into an inspiring message of hope, sharing his personal story of overcoming adversity with students at Sekete Primary School.

Standing before excited students, Adesina drew from his own childhood experiences of poverty to highlight the critical and transformative link between education and basic infrastructure, particularly water and sanitation.

"As a child who grew up in a very poor environment, I understand firsthand the challenges many children face," he told the gathered students, school management, and government officials. "I remember times without proper water and sanitation, experiences that have driven my life's work to improve conditions for African children."

Sekete Primary School is a beneficiary of the African Development Bank's Lesotho Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project, which has improved conditions for 28,266 people across eight zones in the Maseru and Berea districts. Adesina - the first African Development Bank president to visit Lesotho -- highlighted the project's impact, reaffirming the bank's commitment to supporting education and community development.

"These children represent our future," the Bank President noted. "Every investment we make in water, sanitation, and education is an investment in Africa's potential."

Sekete Primary School Principal Sello Matlal provided a stark context about the school's previous challenges: "Before the water project, pupils had to walk over one kilometer to fetch water for meals, drinking, and cleaning." Now, the school enjoys direct access to clean water, transforming students' daily lives.

The project goes beyond basic infrastructure. As Relebohile Lebeta, Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources, explained, "This initiative aligns perfectly with Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 6. Not only will this ensure that students and communities have access to clean water but will also enhance Lesotho's capacity to export water beyond South Africa."

Adesina, accompanied by senior executives of the Bank Group, also visited the Thusong Health Clinic, a community clinic, where nurse Mots'elisi Makhele emphasized the Bank's transformative water and sanitation support. "Before the project, we relied on a single tap where 2,000 people would line up, and during drought periods, we would frequently face water shortages," he explained.

Adesina's delegation included Nomfundo X. Ngwenya, Executive Director for Lesotho; Moono Mupotola, Deputy Director General for Southern Africa; and Dr. Victor Oladokun, Senior Advisor to the President for Communication and Stakeholder Engagement.

In a country where water constitutes 30% of the nation's GDP, many rural Basotho paradoxically lived without access to clean water. This stark contradiction defined daily life until the Lesotho Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project began changing the narrative in these communities.