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Nigeria

BACKGROUND

With more than 230 million people, Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa and sixth-most populated in the world. It was colonized by England in the mid 1800s before gaining independence in 1960. Only six years later, a civil war broke out. Although the war ended in 1970, Nigeria struggled through decades of military dictatorships and attempts to establish stable democratic governments.

Today, it democratically elects it's leaders but many of them are accused of incompetence and corruption. This helps to explain why, despite massive oil reserves and the largest economy in Africa, one-third of Nigeria's people live in “extreme poverty” according to the International Monetary Fund. This poverty includes a lack of safe water — resulting in widespread malaria and typhoid fever. There are also vast areas of the country where the government has lost control to armed gangs engaged in killing, kidnapping, robbery, and other violence.

LIFEWATER NIGERIA

Lifewater Nigeria team photo

Lifewater drilled its first well in Nigeria in 2003. We continued to partner with locals to drill and repair wells off and on until 2018 when circumstances simply became too challenging for the team there to continue.

But fortunately, in 2021, we were approached by a university professor who had undergone Lifewater drilling training several years before and was intent on providing safe water to Nigerians who desperately need it. Hosea Apeh has proven to be a highly capable, committed, and strategically-minded leader.

Hosea Apeh, Program Director

Hosea is the program director and team leader for Lifewater Nigeria. He has a doctorate degree in Educational Psychology and teaches at Nigeria's Abuja University. Passionate about meeting the needs of Nigerian communities, Hosea participated in a well-drilling program Lifewater organized in Nigeria in 1999. Read more about Hosea's story HERE detailing his journey to establish Lifewater Nigeria.