PepsiCo, DP World and WaterAid have launched a new climate-resilient water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programme in Lagos, extending their joint initiative focused on underserved communities.
Designed to directly benefit more than 6,500 people with access to clean water and sanitation facilities, the project aims to ensure hygiene campaigns reach a further 100,000 residents.
The programme targets Ikorodu North and Ojodu Local Council Development Areas, where solar-powered water systems will be installed, sanitation improved, and hygiene education delivered through schools, community groups, and local advocates.
It will also empower 60 women entrepreneurs to engage in WASH-related businesses and increase female participation in governance structures for water and sanitation.
Speaking on behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Folashade Ambrose-Medebem described the initiative as more than a business deal.
She explained that the collaboration “is a powerful example of what true collaboration can achieve – global expertise aligning with local opportunity.” The governor noted that for Lagos, the project means jobs, stronger supply chains and greater opportunities for entrepreneurs to enter global markets.
He reminded the audience that PepsiCo has long been a trusted partner, creating livelihoods and investing in communities, while DP World’s “world-class logistics strength” would ensure the impact touches lives, energises the state’s economy, and reinforces Lagos as Africa’s commercial hub.
Wale Edun, coordinating minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, said the partnership represents both continuity and a commendable signal for Nigeria’s sustainability in manufacturing and logistics.
He pointed out that by sourcing raw materials locally and reinforcing supply chains, the collaboration supports domestic industries and strengthens Nigeria’s long-term export potential.
According to him, this initiative aligns with the country’s priorities of food security and efficient logistics, showing that global businesses can thrive when the right environment is created. “It creates jobs, empowers communities, and places greater purchasing power in the hands of our people,” Edun said.
The programme builds on DP World’s earlier WASH success in Bauchi State, where more than 7,000 people gained access to solar-powered water systems, while local artisans and hygiene promoters were trained and 40% female representation was secured in WASH committees.
For Mohammed Akoojee, CEO and MD of sub-Saharan Africa at DP World, this record illustrates what is possible when commercial capacity is channelled into social purpose. Nigeria, he stressed, is a key market for DP World, and the collaboration with PepsiCo and WaterAid is proof of how business can create long-term community impact.
He explained that by investing in climate-resilient water systems, empowering women entrepreneurs, and reaching people with hygiene education, the partnership is delivering impact that “extends beyond the supply chain.”
Ahmed El-Sheikh, president for PepsiCo in the Middle East, North Africa, Pakistan, Ethiopia and Nigeria Foods, echoed that point. He said PepsiCo’s investment is not only about production but about building a supply network that is agile, inclusive and connected to community needs.
While acknowledging the company’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s food system, he stressed that the benefits must extend beyond the marketplace to improve essentials such as safe water and provide opportunities for people to thrive.
Hatim Khan, senior director of International Programmes at the PepsiCo Foundation, added that investing in safe water is in fact an investment in the strength and resilience of entire communities.
He spoke on the company’s collaboration with WaterAid, noting that lasting change happens when solutions are locally designed and locally led. With DP World now joining in Lagos, Khan said the project is not only expanding infrastructure but also building networks of people, skills, and resources that will secure long-term access.
WaterAid Nigeria’s Country Director, Evelyn Mere, reiterated that view, calling the initiative a demonstration of how technical expertise, private investment, and community leadership can combine to deliver infrastructure that safeguards health, promotes dignity, advances gender equality, and builds resilience against climate shocks.
This Lagos programme is an extension of the PepsiCo Foundation’s WASH initiative with WaterAid, launched in 2022. Over three years, that effort has rehabilitated six WASH facilities, brought clean water to 54,489 people, and reached more than 800,000 individuals through hygiene media campaigns.
Both PepsiCo and DP World view Nigeria as a strategic growth market. PepsiCo has strengthened local sourcing partnerships to support its expanding food production operations, while DP World employs over 6,000 people across healthcare, consumer goods, and logistics in Nigeria, enabling a further 3,500 jobs through its supply chain.
At the event, senior government officials, private-sector leaders and development partners came together to highlight the economic and social value of this collaboration.
The occasion also marked the opening of a new PepsiCo manufacturing facility in Lagos, underlining the company’s long-term investment in the food sector and its focus on helping Nigeria’s supply chains serve both markets and communities.
