A non-governmental organisation (NGO), known as Transfer of Appropriate Sustainable Technology and Expertise known as Taste Nigeria has said in the past 23 years, it has provided over 750 boreholes in Nigerian communities aimed at alleviating the sufferings of people living in rural communities without means of clean water.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Taste Nigeria, Mr. Ben Udejiofo, said the desire to ensure the provision of clean water to Nigeria rural communities was born out of experience of suffering while growing up as a child, when people will work several kilometers in search of water.
He said another factor that led to the establishment of Taste Nigeria, was a story of his school mate in the United Kingdom who felt that God was not good to her.
“Taste was born out of my quest for people to test and see the goodness of God. How can someone say that God is not good”, Udejiofo said in his speech during an official dedication and commissioning of Taste permanent site in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.
He stated this in Jos on Wednesday, during an event to mark Taste 23 years anniversary, Dedication and Commissioning of Office Complex
However, Udejiofo while speaking with Journalists during an interview said: “Taste is 23 years old. 23 years during which many Nigerians, especially those in rural communities, have been able to taste and see that the Lord is good.
“They have seen His provision of clean and safe drinking water, improved sanitation, new clinics and refurbished local schools all because the Lord is good.
“The benefits of these projects have been the improvement in the quality of life for communities, with one reporting a 25 per cent reduction in childhood illness associated with contaminated water”, he said.
Earlier in his remarks, the Country Director, Taste Nigeria, Mr. Nuhu Yakubu, said out of the 750 boreholes, 217 were drilled out of which 91 are solar powered.
Nuhu said as a Christian faith based NGO, Taste has provided its services both in the Muslims and Traditional worshipers communities without prejudice.
He projected that in the next ten years, Taste will surpass what it has been able to achieve in 23 years, adding that the NGO has grown in expertise, technology and capacity.
“If we have done over 750 boreholes with just one rig and now that we have about three rigs of the latest models, we should be able to do 3 times what we have done in 23 years”, he said.
Also, the Board Chairman, Mr Andrew Gwaivangmin, in his speech said Taste intervention strategy has been in the areas of Community empowerment, Supporting schools, Focus on sustainability and Partnership.
“More recently, Taste has worked mainly in three states of Plateau, Kaduna and Yobe, consisting of 10 LGAs of Qua’an Pan, Langtang North, Shendam, Mangu, Jos South, Jos North, Bassa, Barkin Ladi, Chukun, and Patiskum, benefiting over 21 communities”.
He added that based on the finding of the Federal Ministry of Water resources and UNICEF one-third of the Nigerian Population drinks contaminated water at home and 46 million people are still practicing open defecation.
“This is unacceptable in our modern day and age. As an NGO, we resolve to do our part and hope that other charity Organizations will do same”.
The ECWA President, Rev. Dr. Panya Baba, While dedicating and commissioning the TASTE new office Complex Kim Vwei Rahwal Kanang Bukuru, Jos commended TASTE for touching lives, saying the provision of helped to women and less privileged children in the Society is very fundamental to humanity by providing not only spiritual water, but physical water as Jesus did.
Former Minister of Water Resources, Hon. (Mrs) Sarah Ochekpe also commended TASTE for wonderful intervention in various communities of Plateau State and urged Nigerians to develop the spirit of maintenance, saying that has been the challenge affecting laudable projects of Non-governmental organizations and Government.
