Church of Jesus Christ Celebrates ‘World Water Day’ With Donation to Mboshi Aji Community in Nigeria

On 22 March 2024, leaders from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints met with local government leaders in the Mboshi Aji Community in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of the Enuga State in Nigeria, to celebrate World Water Day.  At the celebration the Church leaders announced the donation of a 10,000-liter motorized borehole and new toilet facilities for the community.  The Church funded donation was done in conjunction with the non-governmental agency, WaterAid Nigeria.

World Water Day, held on 22 March every year since 1993, is an annual United Nations Observance focusing on the importance of fresh water.  World Water Day celebrates water and raises awareness of the people throughout the world that are living without access to safe water.  It’s core focus is to encourage world governments to take action to tackle the global water crisis.

The Executive Director of the South-Saharan Social Development Organization (SSDO), Stanley Ilechukwu, praised the Church and WaterAid for embarking on this important water project.  He said, “This project, when completed, will promote proper sanitation in this community.  It meets the important objectives of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).”

Representing the Church was President Prince Oguama of the Nigeria Enugu Stake, and Chidi Ibeaguzie, the local welfare manager for the Church.  Brother Ibeaguzie noted that clean water is one of the major focuses of the humanitarian efforts of the Church. “Enugu is not the only State in Nigeria, nor community in West Africa, where the Church is executing water projects.  Providing fresh water for communities is a priority for the Church,” he said.

Brother Ibeaguzie added,” I encourage the residents of Mboshi Aji not to sabotage these efforts by not taking care of the donated borehole and toilet facilities. “This donation will make life better for the whole community.  Providing for clean water is a campaign for living a good life.”

President-General of Mboshi Aji, Chief Sylvester Ayogu, expressed gratitude to the Church of Jesus Christ and WaterAid for finding the Mboshi Aji community worthy of this important project.  Ayogu promised that the people of the community would protect the water infrastructure from being destroyed by neglect or vandalism.

The Enugu Coordinator of WaterAid Nigeria, Solomon Akpanufot, noted that laying the foundation of the Church funded water project was an important way to mark this year’s World Water Day.

“More than 2.2 billion people globally are living without adequate and safe water and sanitation.  This is a source of great tension for people and governments throughout the world.  The World Water Day is celebrated annually to raise awareness of the need for fresh water and sustainable sanitation,” said Akpanufot.