Dettol, Nigeria’s leading hygiene brand, marked Global Handwashing Day 2026 with activities across Lagos, Kano, Rivers, and Abuja, promoting better hygiene practices among students and communities.
The initiative aimed to equip participants with practical handwashing skills and encourage them to advocate for improved hygiene. According to UNICEF, 3 in 5 Nigerians do not have basic handwashing facilities at home, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced hygiene education and access to facilities.
Dettol’s Commitment to Hygiene Education in Nigeria
In Abuja, the commemoration occurred in Kwali Area Council, in partnership with The Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation. This event gathered government representatives, development partners, and community leaders to enhance hand hygiene and prevent infectious diseases.
Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, representing the Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, emphasized the necessity for coordinated action to improve hand hygiene across the nation. He urged state governments to develop and implement hand hygiene action plans within six months.
Nigeria: Key figures on Handwashing Initiatives
- Approximately one million Nigerians targeted through a national hand hygiene campaign
- More than six million school children reached over the past decade
- Aiming to reach an additional five million children by 2030
Educational Programs Across Major Cities
In Lagos, Rivers, and Kano, Dettol and The Wellbeing Foundation Africa conducted educational programs that reached over one thousand students and community members. Participants engaged in presentations and practical demonstrations, learning about germ transmission and proper handwashing techniques.
Cassandra Uzo-Ogbugh from Reckitt West and East Africa reiterated the company’s dedication to enhancing public health through hygiene education. The Clean Naija Initiative aims to foster better hygiene behaviors and healthier communities in Nigeria.
Future Steps for Hygiene Education
- Integration of hygiene education into school curricula
- Continued distribution of handwashing materials, including handwash stations
- Expansion of the Dettol Hygiene Quest program to reach 11 million children by 2030
Dettol’s initiatives aim to instill lasting hygiene habits among Nigerians, promoting health and well-being across communities.
