By Peter Duru, Makurdi

The Retail Operations Group 2025 of Access Bank in Makurdi has donated a motorised solar-powered borehole to the Welfare Quarters Extention community, Genabe in Makurdi as part of the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility.

Speaking at the commissioning of the project, the Access Bank Zonal Retail Operations Head, North Central 2,  Mr. Olayinka Olawepo described the intervention as unique.

He noted the pains people in local communities go through to source water particularly during the dry season adding that the project was the group’s own way of alleviating the water challenge in the community.

He said “We know what some people go through when it comes to getting portable water because of the importance of water to human survival.

“We also discovered that some boreholes used to dry up at the peak of dry season, that is why we decided to drill and construct this solar-powered borehole that would be able to service the entire community without drying up. That is why we have sited it here.”

While advising the community to secure and protect the project, Olawepo said, “our demand from the community is that they ensure security for the project because it will serve the community for a every long time.

“So we are pleading that the community own the facility and protect it such that it would not be vandalised because if it vandalised the purpose of putting it up in the first place would not be served.

“And on our part, what we will be doing going forward is that we will be coming here often to check if the facility is working or not. We will be happy anytime we come around to see that our people are still enjoying and getting portable water from the borehole.”

The Zonal Retail Operations Head, disclosed that “the project is denoted by the Retail Operations Group. We put our resources together to put up this wonderful project.”

The Kindred Head of Kanshio, Zaki Stephen Nongun thanked the Bank for remembering his community and siting the water project in his dormain.

He said “we are so happy and grateful to Access Bank for intervening in our community with this project. I was aware when they started building this project here and I was shocked beyond words.

“Some communities are crying everyday to have this kind of project, but here they gave us not just a borehole but motorised borehole. So we thank God for using you to impact our people by ending water scarcity in our community.”

Also, the Village Head of Awaaku, Baba Augustine Ufa pointed out that the water project would impact the lives of the people, “particularly our women and girls who usually go around in search of water during the dry season. We are also appealing that the intervention be extended to other communities.”

An elder in the community, Peter Tortiv said the project which was the first of its kind in the community would also help check the outbreak of waterborne diseases “as our people will now be drinking portable water, thanks to your bank.”

A member of the community, Aber Ede recounted the sufferings people with large families face in the community during the peak of dry season saying “sometimes people will not have water to bath because all the wells will be dried up. But with this project in our community, that era is gone for good. That is why we cannot thank Access Bank enough for this all important intervention.

“It is a laudable project that has given some of us every reasons to bank with a commercial bank that cares for our community.”

On her part, Felicia Adaga who also commended the bank for the initiative urged that the intervention be sustained.”

Spokesperson of the youths, Ushahemba Ubele recalled that the search for water in the community had on some occasions exposed girls and women in the community to danger emphasizing that the project marked the end of those challenging times.

Present at the commissioning were the Head of Operations, North Bank Branch, Seun Adeleke, Client Service Manager, New Bridge Road, James Adedeji, Head of Operations, High Level Branch, Samuel Adedara, Client Service Manager, High Level Branch, Olotu Idakwo, the Relationship Manager, Commercial Banking Division, Benue, Fanan Ndur among others.