Empowering Change: Nigerian Social Entrepreneur Kenneth Ogbodo Secures Spot in Reckitt Accelerator Program to Tackle WASH Challenges

Empowering Change: Nigerian Social Entrepreneur Kenneth Ogbodo Secures Spot in Reckitt Accelerator Program to Tackle WASH Challenges

In a significant stride towards addressing water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) challenges in Nigeria, Kenneth Ogbodo, founder of Onyeisi Care Foundation, has secured a coveted position in the Fight for Access Accelerator programme run by Reckitt and Yunus Social Business.

Ogbodo is among the six chosen social entrepreneurs set to benefit from training, network expansion, and grant funding provided by the prestigious accelerator program.

The Fight for Access Accelerator, initially launched in Brazil and South Africa, is now extending its impact to Nigeria, where approximately 60 million people lack access to safe drinking water, and 80 million face inadequate sanitation facilities.

Out of over 250 applications, Kenneth Ogbodo and Onyeisi Care Foundation, recognized for their innovative WASH solutions, were selected through a rigorous process based on decentralization, innovation, information, education, and community management.

The programme aims to empower these entrepreneurs to scale their impact and create positive change within local communities.

Reckitt, in collaboration with Yunus Social Business, is committed to catalyzing social entrepreneurship to improve access to health and hygiene.

The Fight for Access Accelerator becomes a beacon of hope for Nigeria, where 90% of the population lacks comprehensive access to WASH.

Reflecting on the significance of the programme for Nigerian entrepreneurs and the local WASH ecosystem, Akbar Ali Shah, General Manager of Reckitt in Sub-Saharan Africa, stated: “With 90% of the local population lacking the full range of access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in Nigeria, this accelerator sparks hope for building towards a brighter more sustainable future.”

Onyeisi Care Foundation, formerly known as the Better Me Better Africa Initiative, was initiated in 2017 with a mission to safeguard education, sanitation, and empower youth. Its initiatives include installing solar-powered boreholes and toilet facilities in schools, funding tuition, and providing school supplies for indigent students across different Nigerian states.

Kenneth Ogbodo, drawing inspiration from his own childhood experiences of water scarcity, has turned his personal challenges into a source of ambition. His commitment to changing lives has already positively impacted over 500 children through diverse educational support.

Expressing gratitude for the opportunity, Kenneth Ogbodo stated: “Through this seat at the Fight for Access Accelerator, we hope to overcome some of the challenges that come with bootstrapping and setting up a social business so we can scale our impact to help local communities combat the issues that come from a lack of access to clean water.”

“The Fight for Access Accelerator is ongoing in Nigeria and will culminate in a formal award ceremony in Lagos in 2024. Kenneth Ogbodo envisions a future where the Onyeisi Care Foundation has helped over 40,000 students with educational support and built at least 500 solar-powered boreholes for schools in rural communities by November 2030. The collaboration between Reckitt and Yunus Social Business stands as a crucial partnership to address WASH challenges and create sustainable solutions in Nigeria.”