The Living Earth Institute (LEI) is seeking a grant of $40K to embark on developing rural water supply projects in Anambra State of Nigeria. The project will be implemented through Nnamdi Azikiwe University in partnership with the local communities. These projects will be developed to support basic water supply needs of many people within the region. This proposed project would add greatly to the over-all capacity of Nnamdi Azikiwe University to meet infrastructure needs in Anambra State of Nigeria by providing training and materials to students as well as providing clean water to meet the basic necessity of the area.
Consistent with LEI and the university philosophies, the project is very locally focused and driven. The local community will be invested in all aspects of the project including the system design, construction, training, operation and maintenance. The Living Earth Institute (LEI) is currently developing a working relationship with the staff of Nnamdi Azikiwe University. Over the past several years, Dr. George Onwumere of LEI in Olympia, Washington State has been working with Dr. Bernard Akudinobi, our local LEI project lead and a hydrogeology professor, in Nigeria to develop the project proposal and draft a preliminary budget. The project is planned to be carried out in three phases.
Nigeria, with population well over 120 million people is probably the most populous black country in the world. Over the years, severely reduced income-per-capita, poorly founded political base and ethnic frame work have resulted in an increase in devaluation of the quality of life among the citizenry, and general environmental degradation.
The increasing water demand linked to population growth and harsh climatic conditions not withstanding, obtaining safe water for drinking and other domestic activities has remained a prerogative to the privileged few. Water supply situation in public schools (primary and post-primary), health care institutions and markets, still falls short of the requirements for effective operation of sewage waste disposal and management. Very poor and further deteriorating sanitary conditions (including toilet facilities) thus prevail in many public schools, health centers and markets. Avoidable losses associated with fire outbreaks in urban and suburban markets have been common resulting in socioeconomic destabilization of many. Prevalence of water-born diseases (such as typhoid fever, cholera and diarrhea) has been on the increase, especially among the children and the elderly.
Alleviation of the these problems through improved groundwater resources development is considered viable, more so in hydrogeologically favored areas where the depth to water table ranges from less than 40 m to about 1000 m. Lives of many Nigerians could be saved, with overall improvement in socio-economic well-being of many.
LEI is hoping to raise the necessary funds to begin Phase I of the project by the end of this year. The overall cost of the project is estimated at US$ 40,000. The water supply users will contribute to the project by providing land for the wells and by supplying the labor and locally available materials to the project. The villagers will also be responsible to operate and maintain the system. A local ordinance will be developed to describe the functions and responsibilities of the individuals in the community, participation requirements, decision-making processes, dispute resolutions, etc., in order to assure sustainability of the system in the long-term.
Detailed project plan proposal (Acrobat PDF)
George Onwumere, Ph.D.
LEI Project Manager
Nnamdi Azikiwe University is located in Awka which is the capital of Anambra State. Dr. Akudinobi will be located in Awka throughout the project and will be the key contact to oversee the project.
Contact LEI: info@living-earth.org